Winnipeg teen admits to stolen SUV killing

A young Winnipeg man has pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in connection to the death of a city auto mechanic struck by a speeding, stolen SUV nearly a year ago.

Mark Rodgers, 19, pleaded guilty to the charge Monday, on what was slated to be the first day of an eight-day-long preliminary inquiry into the tragic case.

Rodgers was initially accused of manslaughter for killing Zdzislaw Andrzejczak in Winnipeg's North End on that afternoon of Dec. 11, 2009.

That charge was stayed by the Crown Monday in exchange for Rodgers's guilty plea.

According to Crown attorney Vic Bellay, Rodgers, who was driving a stolen Hummer H2, ran a stop sign at Andrews Street and Alfred Avenue and slammed into Andrzejczak's small car. The 47-year-old had the right of way, Bellay said.

Data retrieved from the SUV's computer showed that one second prior to impact, Rodgers had been going 94 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Five seconds before the crash, the large vehicle was travelling at 112 km/h, Bellay said.

Rodgers's view was obstructed by buildings in the area, and at the speed he was travelling there was no chance to avoid Andrzejczak's car.

"There's no way he could have seen down Alfred," Bellay said.

The Hummer was stolen from the parking lot at the Victoria Inn on the morning of the crash.

At about 3 p.m., police tried to pull the vehicle over at Salter Street and Burrows Avenue, but it sped off, Bellay said.

After chasing it for about a quarter of a kilometre, police called off the pursuit for public safety reasons.

Not long after, the deadly crash took place.

The Crown has not said what sentence it will seek for Rodgers. A date for a sentencing hearing will be set Dec. 10.

In the days since the crash, Andrzejczak's family have become outspoken advocates for tougher laws and penalties for car thieves.

A teenaged co-accused in the case — police said he was a passenger in the Hummer — remains before the courts, said Bellay.