Teen pleads guilty to dangerous driving and other charges after fiery crash on Idylwyld Drive

A 14-year old boy has pleaded guilty to several criminal charges following a fiery crash on Saskatoon’s Idylwyld Drive last month, which left a man critically injured.

At Saskatoon Provincial Court on Friday, the teen entered guilty pleas on charges including possession of stolen property over $5,000, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and failing to stop after an accident.

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The teen, who cannot be named due to provisions of Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared in court by video and will remain in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing scheuled for July 14. A pre-sentence report was ordered at the request of defense lawyer Fola Adelugba.

Saskatoon police said the crash at the intersection of Idylwyld and 58th Street West happened shortly after 8 a.m. on May 5.

Saskatoon officers responded after receiving a report from Corman Park Police, which indicated a Dodge Durango SUV was being driven erratically, and was heading into the city on Highway 11.

Corman Park police said the driver fled after an officer attempted to perform a traffic stop.

“The (Corman Park Police Service) officer disengaged, and the vehicle continued southbound before crossing the median into oncoming northbound traffic. The suspect vehicle struck a northbound vehicle, which subsequently caught fire,” police said in a statement.

The Corman Park officer was also taken to Royal University Hospital “as a precaution” after the crash.

An 82-year-old man was left in critical condition after the crash.

Kiefer Ballantyne, 24, was also charged with breaching court-imposed conditions in connection with the incident.

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, an independent agency that investigates incidents involving serious injury or death connected to police actions or occurring while someone is in police custody, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.