Charges laid after woman removed seatbelt to tend to child in head-on crash

Police laid multiple charges in relation to a head-on collision that killed one person on Highway 417 in May.

Officers were called to the highway near Kinburn Side Road in Ottawa‘s northwest end on May 14 just after 9:30 a.m.

The crash happened after an eastbound vehicle crossed the centre median and struck another that was travelling westbound. As a result, the driver of the westbound vehicle died at the scene while officials confirmed that two females and an infant were taken to local hospitals.

“The investigation revealed that she had removed her seatbelt to tend to the child in the rear, which caused her to lose control,” Michael Fathi, media relations officer, told CityNews.

According to Fathi the “exact same scenario” happened a few weeks later on May 31 that killed a young child and injured five others.

It happened just before 4:00 p.m. on Highway 417 near the Carp Road exit. According to police, a vehicle travelling eastbound crossed the centre median and went into oncoming traffic, after striking a vehicle it caught fire.

In the Kinburn Side Road incident Hailey Ledgerwood is being charged with:

• Careless driving causing death
• Careless driving causing bodily harm

The 31-year-old is scheduled to appear in court early next year.