TORONTO — A 33-year-old Oakville, Ont. woman has been sentenced to five years and two months in prison in connection with an impaired driving hit-and-run incident that killed a beloved teacher and father of five in Milton this summer.
Chris Harper, 50, was riding his bicycle southbound on Tremaine Road near Lower Base Line when he was struck from behind by a vehicle on July 3 at about 9 p.m., Halton Regional Police said. He suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said Michelle Maisey was “socializing” at a licensed establishment in Milton, Ont., where she allegedly consumed several alcoholic beverages and became intoxicated.
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A taxi was called by a third party for Maisey to take home, but police said she drove away in her own vehicle instead before striking Harper on Tremaine Road.
Police said Maisey fled the scene but returned several minutes later, slowed her vehicle but did not stop and allegedly drove away again.
A witness captured Maisey’s licence plate, called 911 to report it, then stopped to provide assistance to Harper, police said.
Police located and arrested Maisey about 30 minutes after the collision and said a breathalyzer test at the police station revealed that the concentration of alcohol in her blood was 180 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
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Police said the investigation also revealed Maisey had sent several text messages on her cellphone while driving, both leading up to and at the time of the collision.
On Nov. 12, Maisey pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and failure to stop at the scene of accident involving death. She was sentenced to five years and two months in prison on Tuesday.
Michael Fugler, a colleague and friend of Harper’s, set up an online fundraising campaign for Hill, 40, where supporters can contribute to a University education fund for their five children — Luke, 13, Nicole, 12, Lia, eight, Alison, four, and Joseph, three.
A second online fundraising campaign had also been set up for supporters to donate to Harper’s family, with the combined total of the two exceeding $55,000 as of Tuesday.
A trust fund has also been set up for Harper’s children’s education and supporters can donate online, in addition to a CIBC account that has also been set up to help Hill and her children.
Donations can be made in two ways:
- In person at any CIBC branch. You will need to provide the transit #04922 and the account #5475392.
- Online through an e-transer with your own bank. You will need to provide the following information: Name: Melissa Hill, Email: fundforharperfamily@gmail.com, Security answer: donation.
With files from Lama Nicolas
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