A girl who was critically injured nearly four years ago when a minivan crashed into a rural Alberta school has died of her injuries.
Madeleine “Maddie” Guitard, 15, died at home Wednesday, surrounded by her family.
Guitard was left in a vegetative state after Richard Benson crashed his van into Racette Junior High School in St. Paul in October 2012. St. Paul is located about 185 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
The crash killed Grade 6 student Megan Wolitski and injured two others – Guitard and Angelina Luce, who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
READ MORE: St. Paul community gathers to say goodbye to school crash victim
In November 2013, Benson was sentenced to two years less a day for the fatal crash. After taking into account time served, Benson was set to spend 11 and a half months behind bars.
Benson pleaded guilty to one count of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Benson had suffered seizures since sustaining a head injury in 2002 and had a seizure before the crash occurred. The agreed statement of facts also said Benson had stopped taking suggested doses of medication in 2005 and didn’t disclose his medical condition in order to continue driving.
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Benson had just dropped two of his children off at different schools in St. Paul and stopped at the post office the morning of the crash. He had a seizure as he was driving home down a back alley.
His van bolted at about 80 km/h down more back lanes, crossed five streets and slammed into a window and wall at the school. It landed in a lower-level Grade 6 classroom and sent students and desks flying. Three children were pinned underneath the vehicle.
READ MORE: Richard Benson sentenced in fatal St. Paul school crash
As part of Benson’s sentence, Justice Paul Belzil imposed a lifelong driving ban on the then-47-year-old. He said Benson wasn’t being punished for having a medical condition, but for driving when he shouldn’t have been.
A celebration of life for Guitard will be held on Monday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. at All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Hall in St. Paul.
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