Guelph man pleads guilty to leaving scene of crash that killed cyclist

A Guelph man has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of a cyclist and community advocate.

A Guelph man has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of a cyclist and community advocate.

John Simpson-Bard also admitted in court Tuesday to being behind the wheel, while impaired by drugs, in a separate collision about three weeks later.

On Sept. 5, at around 1 p.m., Susan Bard was riding her bike along Victoria Road North. As she approached St. James Catholic High School, Bard crossed into the passing lane to make a left turn and was struck by a Ford sedan travelling in the same direction.

The 35-year-old driver then took off without checking on Bard.

He was arrested a few hours later at a Guelph home in the city’s east end.

Bard, meanwhile, was transported to a trauma centre in Hamilton where she died from her injuries on Sept. 6, her 79th birthday.

John Simpson-Bard was initially charged with failure to stop after an accident causing bodily harm, but that was later upgraded to failure to remain at a collision causing death and operating an unsafe vehicle.