Driver who killed Calgary grandfather 'panicked' and fled, judge hears in guilty plea

A young man who fatally hit a Calgary grandfather with his truck as the victim crossed a dark road late at night told police he "panicked" after striking the 59-year-old, a Calgary judge heard Wednesday during the driver's guilty plea. 

Mario Venturo, 59, died after he was struck by a truck driven by Seth Froese, 21, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of hit and run causing death 

Details of the incident come from an agreed statement of facts read aloud by prosecutor Sheldon Ostopowich as part of the plea negotiated with defence lawyer Curtis Mennie.

On Sept. 4, 2023, Venturo was hit by the truck as he walked across 16th Avenue in the northwest community of Montgomery. 

Venturo suffered traumatic injuries to his head and torso.

An EMS supervisor happened to be in the area and provided immediate care to the victim, but Venturo was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later. 

Darkness 'may have been a factor'

That night, a tree blocked a streetlight and caused a shadow on the road "that may have been a factor in the collision," according to an agreed statement of facts.

By all witness accounts, Venturo seemed to come out of nowhere" into the path of the truck.

For those reasons, Froese may have avoided legal trouble had he stopped his truck at the scene. 

Instead, he drove several blocks before pulling over. 

At the time, Froese had two friends with him. Both men told Froese to seek help and "not make it a hit and run."

Froese turned himself in 

After parking blocks away, Froese got out of the vehicle and walked back to the area where he'd struck the victim. 

By then, police and paramedics were already on-scene, so he left again.

Three hours later, Froese called 911 to report he had struck a person with his truck.

Police arrived within minutes and took the driver into custody. 

During his police interview, Froese told investigators that Venturo appeared in front of his truck "out of nowhere."

Damaged truck found

Both passengers told police the same thing, adding that they were not able to see Venturo at the time of the collision. 

In his police interview, Froese told officers he "panicked" and was "scared" after hitting Venturo. 

In the aftermath of the collision, police also found Froese's truck parked nearby. It had "obvious damage" to the front of the vehicle, including a dent in the hood in the shape of a person. 

Several members of the victim's family were in court for the plea Wednesday.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

Justice Allan Fradsham will hear sentencing submissions from Crown and defence later this year.