Driver in deadly pedestrian crash that claimed college student's life pleads guilty

A 20-year-old man who was behind the wheel of a speeding car that struck and killed an international student crossing Big Bay Point Road in Barrie last summer has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

Jacob Throop stood in a Barrie courtroom Tuesday and pleaded guilty for his actions on the night of July 21, 2023, with family and friends in attendance, along with the victim's family.

The court heard, through an Agreed Statement of Facts, that Varsil Patel died of his injuries after being hit by a heavily modified Subaru driven by Throop. The court learned Throop was not fully licenced to drive at the time.

Patel, originally from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, was studying computer programming at Georgian College at the time of the collision. He was 19.

The Crown described to the court a broken family devastated by Patel's sudden death, saying his parents feel regret over sending their only son to Barrie to attend school, adding they can't help but question 'what if?'

The court heard Throop was speeding between 105 to 130 kilometres per hour along Big Bay Point Road, a designated community safety zone with a posted 50km/h limit when it struck Patel as he crossed the street on his way to work at the Circle K.

"Your vehicle is not a toy or to be used for sport on public roadways," the prosecution stated.

The Crown also told the court the vehicle's headlights or brake lights weren't on before the crash.

The vehicle, registered to Throop's mother, was found to have third-party modifications to its steering wheel, seats, chrome-tinted windows and exhaust that an expert said were poorly done.

The defence conceded that Throop exhibited "selfish behaviour by driving that speed" and told the court that the young man felt "extreme remorse" for his actions that resulted in the "horrible, horrible tragedy."

"Day in and day out, he lives with this guilt that he's ruined and broken the Patel family," the defence continued. "He wishes he was the one who died instead of Mr. Patel."

Throop addressed the court and apologized to Patel's family. "I hope that one day you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. I'm really sorry. I hope you can forgive me," he told them.

The defence seeks a two-year less-a-day conditional sentence that includes a GPS monitor and a three-year probation with community service.

In contrast, the Crown has asked Justice Nancy Dawson to sentence Throop to 30 months behind bars and impose an additional five-year driving ban. He has been prohibited from driving since the crash.

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