Charges filed after hit-and-run accident resulting in death

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ST. THOMAS — Police on Thursday named a 34-year-old woman as the victim of a fatal hit-and-run accident and announced new criminal charges in the case.

Carissa George, 34, was struck in a crash at Sunset Road and Fingal Line – near the western edge of the city – at around 1.20am on June 22, last Saturday. Police previously said the driver involved did not stay at the scene of the crash and asked for the public’s help in locating the vehicle involved.

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John Charles Michael McLellan, 35, of Thamesville, is charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in a death and two counts of driving without a license. He appeared in court Thursday morning, police said.

“This is exactly the type of crime that has no place in our city,” St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp said at an afternoon press conference. “We will use all means to ensure that (the driver responsible) is held accountable.”

Roskamp’s further comments suggested that George was still alive when police and paramedics arrived at the scene. He said: “Despite the best efforts of the medical staff at St Thomas’ Hospital, she was pronounced dead.”

In the hours following the fatal collision, police announced a short video clip of the suspect’s vehicle and asked anyone in the area at the time of the fatal crash, including anyone with dashboard camera or surveillance video, to contact them. The short, blurry video sparked a flood of speculation from viewers online about the type of vehicle shown in it.

Roskamp said: “Since our police were contacted last week, our investigation teams have worked tirelessly and have not put the case to rest for five days.”

The police continue to ask anyone with video recordings to contact the following address: 519-631-1224.

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