Executive Summary
- Anthony Phillips pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death regarding the October 2024 death of Rachel Turner.
- Prosecutors are seeking a one-year jail sentence, citing the defendant’s 47 prior traffic convictions.
- The defense argued for probation, noting the charge is a provincial offense and not a criminal conviction.
- Investigators confirmed the victim was in a marked crosswalk and speed was not a factor in the collision.
A sentencing hearing is underway for a Toronto school bus driver who struck and killed a 22-year-old pedestrian in a crosswalk, with prosecutors seeking a custodial sentence based on the defendant’s extensive history of traffic violations. Anthony Phillips has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death in connection with the fatality, which occurred in October 2024.
According to the agreed statement of facts presented in court, Phillips was operating a small school bus eastbound on Kingston Road on October 9, 2024. As he initiated a left turn onto Kingswood Road, the vehicle struck Rachel Turner, who was crossing within the marked pedestrian lines. The court heard that Turner attempted to signal the bus to stop before being hit by the side mirror and projected into the roadway. Investigators determined that the bus was traveling at approximately 14 km/h and that speed was not a contributing factor.
Assistant Crown attorney Mark Friedman requested a one-year jail sentence, citing Phillips’ record of 47 prior traffic convictions, which includes a previous instance of careless driving. Friedman argued that while Phillips had a gap in offenses between 2014 and 2024, the sheer volume of past infractions speaks to a pattern of behavior. “Mr. Phillips was not exercising due care and attention when driving his school bus,” Friedman stated, noting that there were no physical obstructions preventing the driver from seeing the pedestrian.
Defense counsel Noami Lutes advocated for a sentence of probation, emphasizing that Phillips pleaded guilty to a provincial offense rather than a criminal charge. Lutes argued that the collision was the result of a failure to exercise due care rather than criminal intent or dangerous driving, pointing out that Phillips did not violate other traffic laws during the incident. The defense characterized the event as a tragic accident stemming from a momentary lapse rather than reckless conduct.
During the emotional hearing, the victim’s family delivered impact statements, describing the profound loss of Rachel Turner. Phillips addressed the court and the family, expressing remorse and accepting responsibility for his actions. The Crown confirmed that a charge of dangerous driving causing death had been withdrawn. The presiding judge is scheduled to deliver the sentence in March.
Judicial Sentencing Considerations
The upcoming sentencing decision will likely hinge on how the court weighs the specific nature of the provincial offense against the defendant’s aggregate driving history. In cases of careless driving causing death, the judiciary must balance the absence of criminal intent with the need for public deterrence and accountability, particularly when a defendant holds a commercial driving position. The withdrawal of the criminal charge limits the scope to regulatory penalties, yet the Crown’s push for jail time suggests a strategy to leverage past driving records as an aggravating factor in fatality cases. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
