The 79-year-old driver who struck a girl guide in London, killing the 8-year-old, was given a two-year house arrest sentence. The 79-year-old London, Ontario, woman was sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest, followed by three years of probation that includes a driving ban. She was found guilty of running her car into a group of girl guides in 2021, killing an eight-year-old girl and injuring seven others.
However, the house arrest and the entire sentence are on hold while McNorgan’s lawyer, Phillip Millar, files an appeal on Friday.
In April, it was determined that retired teacher Petronella McNorgan had committed seven acts of criminal negligence resulting in bodily harm and one act of criminal negligence resulting in death.
A ban on publication has been implemented to safeguard the victims’ identities.
At the London Courthouse, Justice Pamela Hebner of the Ontario Superior Court handed down the sentence.
The mother and father of the eight-year-old victim were among the many family members crammed into the courtroom. Following the verdict, her parents and other witnesses who had come to support the victims declined to comment.
On the evening of November 30, 2021, McNorgan accelerated her Honda CRV to 121 km/h as she drove through the intersection of Wonderland Road and Riverside Drive.
The car struck a light pole and the rear bumper of a stopped Jeep at a red light. Then, as the guides and their chaperones were making their way toward a nearby green space to create snow owls, it crashed into them.
Along for the walk were seven other troop members who sustained injuries, some of which were life-threatening.
The eight-year-old’s parents spoke about the anguish of losing their daughter during victim impact statements they gave during the June sentencing proceedings.
In addition, McNorgan said, “I would like you to know that I never would intentionally hurt anyone,” when reading a letter of apology in court.
