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Montreal

Driver, 29, pleads guilty after mowing down two pedestrians in his BMW

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A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty after hitting two pedestrians with his BMW during a car show.

A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing bodily harm after he hit two young people with his BMW while being filmed at a car event.

Keith Joseph Stephan pleaded guilty to two counts in connection to collisions with a then 19-year-old woman, Hannah Cuillerier, and 23-year-old man, Nicolas Beauchemin, on Cote-de-Liesse Road in 2023 at a “car and coffee” event.

Car hits pole Two people were seriously injured after a speeding car hit a pole in Montreal's St. Laurent borough on Sept. 10, 2023. (Sidney Dagenais)

“With the intent of making a show for the people assembled on the side, Mr. Stephan accelerated in short bursts, which led to him losing control of his car,” the statement of facts reads. “His car went into the crowd that was on the North side of the street. In trying to regain control, the car slipped.”

Cuillerrier was struck by the car and thrown into a lamp pole, which was knocked over. She then hit the windshield and was thrown to the ground, the court document reads.

Beauchemin was also hit by the car and thrown into the air.

Cuillerrier suffered severe external and internal bleeding, kidney and liver damage and suffered a ruptured aorta and femoral artery. She was in a coma for three days.

In addition, she suffered a broken femur, fibula, pelvis, arm and spinal fracture.

Beauchemin suffered injuries to the legs, abdomen and the head, but was discharged from the hospital quickly.

Stephan admitted that he doesn’t usually drive his car on wet roads and that he was aware that driving the car in the conditions on that day could be dangerous, the statement of facts reads.

He is due back in court in May for further proceedings.