House arrest for man charged in Vernon hit and run

VERNON – A driver charged in relation to a 2016 hit and run will serve his sentence in the community.

Hugh Donnelly, who is in his late 30s, will serve four months of house arrest for the May 6, 2016 crime.

The victims, Mae Hooper, 55 at the time, and her teenage daughter were thrown from their bikes on Buchanan Road after being hit by a truck. The local athletes were both hurt, with Hooper suffering a concussion and back injuries. The driver did not stop.

Donnelly later turned himself in to police and was charged with two counts of failing to stop at an accident scene involving bodily harm. He pleaded guilty in February, and was sentenced in Vernon Provincial Court March 15.

Shortly after the crash, a walk and ride event was held to raise awareness about cycling safety.

According to ICBC, there was an annual average of 140 crashes involving cyclists between 2009 and 2014 in the Southern Interior alone. Between those years, there were 10 fatal crashes.

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