Highway Traffic Act charges against the man accused in the head-on collision that killed 26-year-old Mikayla Ouellet have been dropped, with the Crown now concentrating on pursuing only the criminal charges against him.
Defence representing Phillip Williamson, 33, was in Superior Court on Monday in relation to the criminal charges of dangerous operation and causing death by criminal negligence in relation to the fatal collision that occurred on Sept. 6 of 2023.
If found guilty of dangerous operation and causing death by criminal negligence, Williamson could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The charges against Williamson have yet to be tested in court and he is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
Earlier this month, the Crown dropped the original Highway Traffic Act charge of careless driving causing death in favour of pursuing the criminal charges in Superior Court. Sault Police added the criminal charges on Dec. 1, nearly three months after the collision that killed Ouellet.
A Crown pre-trial has occurred between the defence and prosecution in relation to the criminal charges. A judicial pre-trial date has been set for April 18, with Williamson's next court appearance scheduled for April 24.
In an article last month, Ouellet's parents told SooToday that the death of their daughter and her unborn child has affected countless lives.
On the day of the collision, Williamson was driving a Ford pickup truck, one of three vehicles involved in the collision that occurred around 11:20 a.m.
At the time, police said the initial investigation revealed that the Ford pickup was eastbound on Wallace Terrace, east of Allens Side Road, when it crossed the centre line, striking a westbound delivery van and a westbound Chevrolet pick up.
The Ford pickup then left the roadway and rolled onto its passenger side. The driver of that pickup had to be extricated from the vehicle and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Ouellet, the driver of the Chevrolet pickup truck, was pronounced deceased at the scene. It was later revealed she was pregnant at the time of her death.