Sarnia-area man gets house arrest for ‘cowardly’ hit-and-run with cyclist

Moments before finding out whether he was going to jail or getting house arrest for injuring a Sarnia-area cyclist in a hit-and-run crash with his work pickup truck, Andrew Craig apologized and called his actions cowardly.

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Justice Mark Poland said he couldn’t think of a better description.

“Mr. Craig, you’re entirely correct. That’s exactly what your behavior involved here. It was a cowardly decision on your part,” he said this week as he sentenced him to eight months’ house arrest with GPS tracking, probation and community service.

A vehicle fled and a cyclist was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a collision on Lakeshore Road near Mandaumin Road on Sept. 1, 2023 around 8:45 pm, police said at the time. Sarnia police and Lambton OPP both asked the public for tips, with several people posting on social media a white pickup truck with black stripes was involved in the crash. Police said an arrest was made on Sept. 11, 2023.

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Craig, 35, of Camlachie was charged with failing to stop after a collision, failing to report a collision, and careless driving causing bodily harm, police said. In the meantime, the cyclist – Allan Ross, 29, also of Camlachie – filed a $5.7-million lawsuit against both Craig and Sentry Fire Protection Services, the Sarnia-based company that owns the white 2020 Chevrolet Silverado pickup involved in the collision.

Craig, who’s since lost his job and ownership stake in the company, pleaded guilty in September only to failing to stop after a crash and the rest of the charges were dropped, but he took responsibility in court for injuring Ross and acting cowardly after the crash .

“I’ve caused a great deal of pain to Allan Ross,” he said.

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According to the civil case, Ross’s injuries included pelvic, spine, rib and teeth fractures; a right foot ligament injury; right adrenal contusion; kidney laceration; and multiple abrasions on his chin, chest, abdomen, lower limbs and hands.

Ross, who was participating in the Great Cycle Challenge fundraiser for kids cancer research that year and raised more than $1,000 while pedaling 604 kilometers as of August 2023, was struck from behind and went airborne. He wrote in a statement read in criminal court he can vividly remember the crash.

“I felt broken and hopeless,” he wrote.

The welder, who is in a constant state of pain and depression, added he loved his job and spending time with his co-workers, which he can’t do anymore.

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“This is a man who feels, in many ways, like he’s lost everything,” Poland said. “The victim impact here is significant.”

Assistant Crown attorney Sarah Carmody, who asked for six months’ jail, focused on the fact Craig fled.

“Mr. Craig didn’t have the basic human decency to stop,” she said.

He also didn’t call 911 or ask someone else to. Instead the first call he made was two days later to his then-boss and business partner, worrying he needed a lawyer.

“His first and only thought was for himself,” she said. “It didn’t even bother him at all that Mr. Ross was lying on the road injured and suffering.”

But Craig had no prior criminal record and a pre-sentence report spoke positively about him and about his taking responsibility for his actions.

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“The offense here truly was out of character,” Poland said.

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With the Crown pushing for jail and defense lawyer James Guggisberg asking for eight months’ house arrest, Poland called it a difficult decision as both suggestions were in the range. But he went with Guggisberg’s idea and added GPS tracking and a ban on drinking or doing drugs.

Craig also can’t have care or control of a vehicle and is banned from driving for one year. Additionally, he has to complete 60 hours of community service.

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This was the second Lambton County crash in three years that involved a participant in the Great Cycle Challenge, although the other one was fatal. A Wyoming woman was cycling in the same fundraiser in August 2020 when she was hit and killed by a distracted driver, who was later sentenced to 45 days in jail.

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