Robin Orcherton was left paralyzed after a hit and run in Vernon Dec. 3, 2014.
Image Credit: Robins Journey
April 17, 2015 - 10:05 AM
VERNON - A Vernon man has pleaded guilty to causing a car crash that left a local nurse paralyzed from the neck down.
Robin Orcherton, a Vernon nurse and mother, was on her way home from work Dec. 3, 2014 when her car was struck by a blue Jeep. The driver fled the scene and police later discovered the Jeep was reported stolen.
Vernon RCMP said they never gave up investigating the accident, which left Orcherton a quadriplegic, and arrested Michael Heeley, 22, several months later in February 2015. Heeley was charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, failure to stop at an accident, and attempting to obstruct justice.
He has now pleaded guilty to the first charge, criminal negligence causing bodily harm. According to court documents, Heeley is set to be sentenced for the offence May 21.
Coworkers launched a fundraising campaign to support Orcherton, and people can still donate here.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015