‘She was my best friend’: Impaired driving victim’s loved one share their grief

Portage la Prairie residents shared their grief and pain at the sentencing hearing of James Lorne Hilton, the driver responsible for a fatal crash that killed 28-year-old Kellie Verwey last year. Verwey's mother, Meechelle Best, described her daughter as "not just my daughter, she was my best friend" as she read a lengthy victim impact statement in court. Several other family members of Verwey and loved ones of the victim also delivered emotional statements, some emotional moments brought tears to their eyes.

James Hilton, 26, was on bail and driving a stolen truck that contained methamphetamine at the time of the collision on January 15, 2025. He lost control on a highway near Portage la Prairie and caused the crash. A Crown prosecutor is requesting a seven-year sentence for Hilton, less time already served. Hilton pleaded guilty earlier this year to impaired driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene of the collision.

During the sentencing hearing, Hilton was asked for his identity, but gave a fake name to police. After the collision, he fled the scene but was later located and taken into custody. A blood test taken roughly four hours after the crash showed that Hilton had a "very high amount of methamphetamine" in his system. Police also recovered some methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia from Hilton's bag and near the driver's seat of the stolen vehicle. Justice Scott Abel is expected to issue his sentencing decision later this year.