Teen charged after man on lawnmower killed by car going 191 km/h in Ontario’s North Dumfries area

A 16-year-old girl from Cambridge, Ont., has been charged in connection with a collision that killed a 51-year-old man from North Dumfries Township last month, police said Wednesday.

Nathan Smith, 51, was on a riding lawnmower cutting grass on Clyde Road just after 10 a.m. ET on June 15 when he was struck by a BMW. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 16-year-old girl from Cambridge, was not injured.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service announced the girl has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, speeding and two counts of stunt driving.

In connection with the speeding charge, police allege the driver was travelling 191 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

Police did not initially say whether anyone else was in the vehicle, but now say there were three passengers. The passengers, all from Cambridge and ages 15, 16 and 17, have each been charged with two counts of failing to comply with a release order. 

Fall crash involving teens unrelated to recent one

Another crash involving teens occurred last fall, but Const. Melissa Quarrie told CBC News that the two collisions are unrelated.

In October, four teenagers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after their vehicle left Clyde Road and struck a hydro pole.

Police said it appeared the driver, a 15-year-old girl from Cambridge, lost control of the vehicle.

The passengers — two boys and one girl, all from Cambridge — were taken to hospital by land and air ambulance.

Residents call for safety measures

At a township council meeting on June 22, Clyde Road-area residents John Duench and Ashley Elzinga called for traffic-calming measures.

During the presentation, Duench read a letter to council from Smith’s daughter, Jasmine Smith.

“If I had a dollar for every speeding car that went by, I’d be able to afford a house on Clyde Road myself. At best, the sounds were an annoyance, at worst it was the death of my father,” the letter said.

In the letter, Smith asked for speed bumps and cameras and implored council to act.

“Do it for my father. Do it for the current and future residents for Clyde and those passing through. No one should have to feel unsafe and unheard in their community,” the letter said.

“If some action had been taken sooner, I believe my dad would have finished mowing the lawn. He would have gone back inside and continued his day. I would have seen him again.”