Road rage driver handed conditional sentence
Nearly a year to the day Joshua Wheatley was caught on camera running a man over in an apparent road rage incident, the 22-year-old has been given a conditional sentence for six months, including partial house arrest with a curfew.
Wheatley pleaded guilty in December to dangerous driving when South Simcoe Police said he ran into a pedestrian with his car, then sped off in early May of last year.
Wheatley, who is from Bradford, was also initially charged with assault with a weapon and flight from police. Those charges were withdrawn on Tuesday. Wheatley will then be on probation for 12 months and banned from driving for a year and a half.
The court heard the Barrie man hit by Wheatley’s car was trying to stop Wheatley from taking off after he said Wheatley backed his car into his vehicle along the ninth line while both were stuck in heavy traffic.
After hitting the man with his car, police said Wheatley then fled the scene and was eventually stopped along the 10th sideroad in Bradford, only to take off again and get boxed in by officers near the 10th line before finally being taken into custody.
The court heard the 35-year-old victim has since recovered from his injuries.
Wheatley told the court last week he was in a manic state at the time of the crash because of a steroid he was taking called Trenbolone, which his lawyer told the court has been known to cause increased aggression and violent behaviour.
“I just think on any other day, this wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t taking that stuff…because that’s not me at the end of the day,” said Wheatley.
His lawyer told the court Wheatley wasn’t trying to hit the man who had jumped in front of Wheatley’s car before being struck.
The Crown told the court Wheatley was trying to take off from the scene and did nothing to avoid hitting the man.
The Crown says, “If someone is foolish or angry enough to get in front of your car…as a driver…you’ve got to use the brake pedal. And certainly, by the time the gentleman is on his hood, that’s an option. And it is not an option that is exercised.”
Adding, “Somebody has to be the adult in the room, and nobody was.”
The Crown concluded, “You can’t bring a gun to a knife fight, and you can’t use a car against - for lack of a better term - an unarmed pedestrian.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
Debunking the 'anti-sunscreen' movement: Doctors say TikTok trend is dangerous
Dermatologists are sounding the alarm about misinformation from the anti-sunscreen movement, saying not wearing sunscreen can cause cancer and other problems.
Three people shot to death in tiny South Dakota town; former mayor charged
Three people were shot to death in a small South Dakota town, and a former law officer who once served as the town's mayor is charged in the killings.
Poilievre Conservatives offer to help Trudeau Liberals pass foreign interference bill
Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party is offering to help Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government pass a piece of legislation aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
Ont. university says professor fired over 'unethical' sexual relationships with students
An associate professor at McMaster University has been fired after its board of governors found that he engaged in 'unethical, inappropriate and in some instances exploitative' sexual relationships with students.
Richard Dreyfuss' comments about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity lead venue to apologize
The actor Richard Dreyfuss showed up in a dress at a 'Jaws'-themed event in Massachusetts, where the blockbuster 1975 movie he starred in was shot, and then proceeded to make demeaning remarks about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity.
'Son of Sam' killer Berkowitz denied parole in 12th attempt
'Son of Sam' killer David Berkowitz, who set New York City on edge with late-night shootings in the 1970s, was denied parole after his twelfth board appearance.
DEVELOPING Trump prosecutor focuses on 'cover-up' in closing arguments while defence attacks key witness
Donald Trump's landmark hush money trial turns on the testimony of a prosecution witness who told lies on the stand and cannot be trusted, a defence lawyer said Tuesday during closing arguments.