THUNDER BAY — A local man will serve a two-year conditional sentence for failing to remain at the scene of a collision that claimed the life of a 25-year-old man.
Mario Ricci, 59, pleaded guilty on Feb. 21 to failure to stop after an accident resulting in death.
On Jan. 25, 2024, Thunder Bay police officers responded to an incident on Simpson Street near Pruden Street just before midnight.
A 25-year-old male pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle, which police described as a newer model silver or grey pick-up truck, had fled the scene before police arrived.
The man was taken to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
On Friday, Justice Frank Valente sentenced Ricci to a two-year conditional sentence, with the first six months essentially being a period of house arrest.
During that six-month period, Ricci can only leave his residence during a four-hour window once a week to acquire the “necessities of life.”
The conditions are lessened for the remaining 18 months of the custodial sentence with a curfew in place instead of house arrest conditions.
Following the two year sentence, Ricci is further subject to 18 months of probation.
On Jan. 25, 2024 around 11:50 p.m., emergency services responded to a collision where the involved vehicle had fled the scene.
A male pedestrian was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The 25-year-old male had a severe brain bleed and died from his injuries.
Police searched the area but there were no visible skid marks or debris at the scene.
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows a male running on the sidewalk of Simpson Street before turning and running into a lane of traffic.
A pickup truck with a plow attached to the front was seen driving away and the pedestrian was laying on the ground, not moving.
Investigators were able to find the driver by contacting local plow installers.
Ricci first denied being involved in any collision to the police.
His wife arrived at the home while police were there. She told police a pedestrian had run out in front of the truck, they had stopped but saw other people nearby and drove home.
The video evidence supports the argument that Ricci was not at fault for the collision, said Valente.
It was not Ricci’s manner of driving that caused the accident, but his conduct after was unacceptable, irresponsible and out of character, the judge said.
Valente said this was a difficult sentence for him as no sentence he could impose would bring back the man who died.
“There are no winners here,” he said.
