A 43-year-old Aurora man has been convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene after a high-speed Highway 11 crash near Parry Sound that left a motorcyclist with life-altering injuries.
Ontario Court Justice Peter Tetley delivered the guilty verdict on July 31, rejecting Gregory Monteath’s claim that he believed he had struck a wild animal during the June 20, 2023, collision.
Court heard Monteath was driving his Chevrolet Silverado at approximately 156 km/h when he rear-ended a Harley-Davidson motorcycle ridden by Diane Laliberte-Rainville, a North Bay long-term care director, as she travelled to work. The impact caused catastrophic injuries, including a brain bleed, fractured vertebrae, multiple broken bones, a dislocated shoulder, severe ligament damage and permanent disability to her right arm and hand.
Monteath testified he was using two hands-free cellphones before the crash but denied they distracted him. He said he continued driving because he believed the collision was minor and only later stopped to inspect his truck before contacting Ontario Provincial Police to report that he had likely hit an animal.
Justice Tetley found the evidence showed Monteath was either distracted or failed to keep a proper lookout before the collision. The judge also noted Monteath’s excessive speed and aggressive driving leading up to the crash made it unreasonable to believe he had mistaken a large Harley-Davidson motorcycle for wildlife.
The court further concluded Monteath knowingly left the scene and later took secondary roads in an effort to avoid detection rather than return home, as he claimed. He was eventually arrested after his disabled pickup truck was located near Trout Creek.
Monteath is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Jan. 15, 2027.