A Val Caron man charged in a fatal hit and run accident last spring, who didn't show up on time for his trial Thursday was arrested before being released on bail and a promise to appear for his next court appearance in two weeks.
Mitchell McHugh, 20, was scheduled to go on trial Thursday morning in provincial offences court on charges of careless driving, consuming alcohol while driving with a beginner's licence and failing to notify a change of address.
McHugh was charged in relation to an accident that killed a teenager and seriously injured another on Deschene Road in Hanmer in Val Therese last March.
McHugh was charged in late July after an accident which occurred March 11, 2001.
Andrew Jesse (A.J.) Chaput, 16, was killed and Candice Kirkbride, then 15, was seriously injured when hit by a vehicle following a huge March Break party at a residence in Val Therese.
Police say Chaput and Kirkbride were hit while walking along Deschene Road after both had attended a house party which attracted a huge crowd of teenagers. Estimates of how many people attended the party range from 150 to 400.
Barnard (Butch) Woodbury, who hosted the party, was found guilty last summer of illegally selling liquor and selling alcohol to minors under age 19 and received a 30-day jail sentence.
On Thursday, McHugh's trial was delayed when he failed to show up on time.
A justice of the peace issued a warrant for his arrest and court was closed when McHugh finally made his appearance at the courthouse.
He was placed under arrest, but was quickly given a bail hearing and released on a promise to appear.
A new trial date will be set for McHugh when he makes his next court appearance April 11.
The Chaput and Kirkbridge families have launched civil lawsuits in relation to the accident and party.
Both lawsuits name 10 defendants, including Woodbury and McHugh.
