Driver With Meth in System Pleads Guilty in Crash That Killed Manitoba Woman, 28

A Manitoba man has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal crash that killed 28-year-old Kellie Verwey last year.

James Lorne Bayley Hilton admitted to impaired driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene during a court appearance Thursday in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Family Attends Court Hearing

Several members of Verwey’s family were present in court when Hilton entered his guilty pleas.

Verwey’s mother, Meechelle Best, said she was relieved the case would not have to go to trial.

However, she said the hearing was emotionally draining, especially because it was the first time she had seen Hilton in person while he was in custody.

Crash Led Family to Push for Bail Reform

The crash happened on January 15, 2025, in the rural municipality of Portage la Prairie.

After Verwey’s death, her parents began advocating for changes to Canada’s bail system.

Their concerns grew after police said Hilton was wanted at the time of the crash for failing to comply with a release order.

The family said their frustration increased further when they learned Hilton had left the treatment centre he was released to after the crash without permission.

Mother Remembers Kellie Verwey

Best said her daughter touched many people during her life.

She described Kellie as someone known for her love of family, friends and life.

Best said if something similar had happened to someone else in the family, Kellie would have spoken loudly about how unfair it was and pushed for change.

Crown Plans to Stay Other Charges

Crown attorney Michael Himmelman told court that prosecutors planned to stay other charges Hilton had faced.

He also acknowledged the presence of Verwey’s relatives and community members in the courtroom, saying the Crown recognized how difficult the day was for them.

How the Fatal Crash Happened

Hilton was 25 years old at the time of the crash.

According to an agreed statement of facts, he lost control of the Ford F-150 truck he was driving.

The truck was stolen, and Hilton’s driving caused an oncoming truck to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

That truck crossed the north fog line and was then struck by Verwey’s vehicle.

Her vehicle ended up in the ditch.

Evidence From the Crash Scene

Himmelman said tire marks found at the scene suggested Hilton’s F-150 had crossed into oncoming traffic before entering the ditch.

When RCMP arrived minutes later, they found Verwey unresponsive and bleeding.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her cause of death was later determined to be blunt force injuries from the crash.

Hilton Left the Scene

A witness reported seeing Hilton get out of the truck he had been driving.

He then got into another vehicle and left the crash scene without stopping, providing identification or offering help.

When Justice Scott Abel asked Hilton whether he accepted the facts as true, Hilton answered yes.

Hilton Told Police He Panicked

According to the agreed facts, police later learned Hilton had been taken to a nearby gas station.

From there, he called a cab and left again before officers arrived.

RCMP contacted the cab company and then spoke to the driver, telling him to take the vehicle to a police detachment in Headingley.

During the call, police also spoke with the passenger, who gave a false name and birth date before leaving the moving or recently stopped vehicle and walking toward a nearby motel.

Police later found and arrested him.

After his arrest, Hilton told officers he did not know what to do and ran because he panicked after seeing how bad the accident and vehicle looked.

Methamphetamine Found in Hilton’s System

After the crash, police found several drug-related items in the truck Hilton was driving and on him when he was arrested.

He was also carrying about 10 grams of methamphetamine.

Hilton told police he had used drugs.

A later test found about 1,130 nanograms of methamphetamine in his blood, which Himmelman described as a very high amount.

Crash Analyst Finds Hilton Lost Control

A collision analyst concluded that the crash occurred because Hilton lost control of the vehicle.

Hilton admitted that his driving was a significant contributing cause of the crash that killed Verwey.

Crown Seeking Seven-Year Sentence

Himmelman said prosecutors plan to ask for a seven-year sentence.

The Crown is also expected to seek additional orders, including a driving ban.

Hilton will be sentenced at a later date.

James Lorne Bayley Hilton’s guilty pleas bring a major development in the fatal crash that killed Kellie Verwey. Court heard that Hilton was impaired by a high level of methamphetamine, lost control of a stolen truck and left the scene after the collision.

While Verwey’s family is relieved to avoid a trial, they continue to push for accountability and changes to Canada’s bail system.