Toronto woman charged in fatal hit-and-run in North York granted bail

A 28-year-old Toronto woman charged in connection to a fatal hit-and-run of a New Brunswick woman was granted bail on Monday.

The accused appeared in a Toronto court represented by prominent criminal and civil rights lawyer Clayton Ruby.

He said her client tried to turn herself in days following the incident but was told by police to come back once they needed her.

“After she heard that police wanted to arrest her, after the accident, she went and turned herself in on her own,” Ruby told reporters outside the College Street courthouse.

“She went to the Hanna Street address, where the police office is, as concerned with this kind of offence and they told her, ‘No. We don’t want to arrest you. We’ll call you when we need you.'”

Toronto police said officers responded to a call about a pedestrian struck around 11 p.m. on Oct. 4 at York Mills and Don Mills roads.

Police said 63-year-old Debbie Graves from Riverside, N.B., was walking on the north side of York Mills, just west of Don Mills when a vehicle mounted the curb and struck her.

READ MORE: Victim of Toronto fatal hit-and-run was visiting from New Brunswick

The victim had been in town visiting on business and had just gotten off work at the time of the incident. She was pronounced dead on scene.

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Police identified the vehicle wanted in connection with the incident as a grey 2014 Nissan Rogue.

VIDEO: 28-year-old woman arrested in fatal North York hit-and-run

0:30 28-year-old woman arrested in fatal North York hit-and-run

The vehicle was located with front right-end damage at an auto shop in Toronto two weeks ago. Police said they identified the registered owner of the vehicle as Erin Wright but at the time, they could not confirm if she was behind the wheel during the fatal collision.

READ MORE: Vehicle wanted in connection with fatal North York hit-and-run located

Police said Wright was arrested on Saturday and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, fail to stop at scene of accident causing death, impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death and obstruct police.

Ruby said her client, who works as a hairdresser, tried to turn herself in on Oct. 9.

“So she’s shown that she’s a person of very good character. She does the right thing,” Ruby said. “She surrendered herself voluntarily and they told her, ‘No, we don’t want you yet. Go away.'”

“So all I ask is that you have some understanding for her at this point where she’s presumed innocent under our constitution and give her the benefit of whatever doubt occurs before evidence is actually called.”

“I was in contact with the officer in charge, Anderson, a few days after the accident. And I spoke to him and arranged with him that he would arrest her if he needed her and wanted her. That I would surrender her.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was in contact with the officer in charge, Anderson, a few days after the accident. And I spoke to him and arranged with him that he would arrest her if he needed her and wanted her. That I would surrender her."

Caitlin Crawford, Graves’ daughter, described her mother in a statement on Facebook as “kind, compassionate and full of life and love.”

She said the family had plans to travel together and that Debbie loved the beach and creative projects.

“We are beyond devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of our mom,” Crawford said. “How does one go on knowing she was taken from this earth and from us in such a painful and tragic manner?

“Our mom was a wonderful person who always put others first. Life will never be the same without her guidance, kindness, laughter and love.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Our mom was a wonderful person who always put others first. Life will never be the same without her guidance, kindness, laughter and love."

The accused was released on $101,000 bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on Nov. 23.

Under her bail conditions, Wright is not allowed to operate a motor vehicle, cannot have contact with Graves’ family and can only be out in the community under supervision of one of her sureties.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

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– With a file from Jessica Patton, Catherine McDonald