A Drumheller man has been sentenced to 27 months in jail after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death after he reportedly blacked out behind the wheel near Sunridge Mall in 2017.
James Beagrie pleaded guilty in Court of Queen’s Bench in Calgary on Monday, September 28, 2020. He was charged with criminal negligence causing death but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death. He was sentenced on Thursday, February 25.
Anjna Sharma, 48, was walking near Sunridge Mall on May 23, 2017, when the truck driven by Beagrie lost control striking her and dragging her a short distance.
In an agreed statement of facts, the court heard that Beagrie had a history of blacking out, caused by a benign brain tumour.
The tumour was first discovered in 2013, and Baegrie has been seeing a neurologist annually to monitor it. In February 2017, Beagrie was involved in a single-vehicle collision in Drumheller. Following the crash, a CT scan determined the tumour had grown and on March 17, he reported to his doctor he had experienced three or four bouts of losing consciousness at work. Alberta Transportation at this time was sending letters requiring Beagrie to have his family doctor complete questions regarding his health and in a follow-up letter in April, provided a May 10 deadline for the survey.
A week prior to the deadline, Beagrie visited his doctor and was advised not to drive. He was subsequently sent a letter advising him his drivers’ license would be suspended on June 6. On May 23, Sharma was killed when Beagrie lost consciousness behind the wheel and hit Sharma.
Along with his 27 month sentence, he has been banned from driving for seven and half years following his release.