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Accident – Death – Obituary News : THUNDER BAY — In a tragic incident that took place in July, a driver who veered off the road and struck two pedestrians, resulting in the death of one and severe injuries to the other, has pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.
Jonathan Paypompee, a 39-year-old resident of Big Grassy First Nation, appeared in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Tuesday and entered a guilty plea for the aforementioned charge. The plea was made in order to request a pre-sentence report with a Gladue component. No specific details regarding the incident were disclosed during the court hearing.
The incident occurred in the Intercity area on the afternoon of July 3. Emergency services were alerted to a collision involving a single vehicle and pedestrians on Simpson Street near Northern Avenue at approximately 3:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered a man and a woman with serious injuries. The man, later identified as 42-year-old Aaron Carson Johnson, was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries later that day. The woman, who is Johnson’s partner, survived the collision but sustained life-altering injuries.
Following the collision, Paypompee was seen sitting inside the vehicle before abruptly leaving the scene on foot. In an effort to identify him, the Thunder Bay Police Service released surveillance footage of Paypompee to the public. Thanks to numerous tips from the community, Paypompee was eventually identified as the driver and was urged to surrender to the authorities.
However, Paypompee failed to turn himself in and was subsequently arrested on July 4. He was charged with several offenses, including dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death, failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing bodily harm, and driving while prohibited.
During their investigation, the Thunder Bay Police Service stated that they did not believe the collision was intentional, although drug paraphernalia was found inside the vehicle, leading to speculation that it may have played a role in the incident.
The case is set to return to court in February, where additional facts related to the incident will be presented, and sentencing submissions will be heard.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from dangerous driving. The loss of Aaron Carson Johnson’s life and the life-altering injuries sustained by his partner highlight the importance of responsible and attentive driving to ensure the safety of all road users. The community mourns the loss of Johnson and hopes for a fair and just outcome in this case..
