Truck driver pleads guilty in crash that killed 3 Carrot River, Sask., teens

A semi-truck driver from Winnipeg has pleaded guiltyin a highway construction zone crash that killed three teenage boys near Spalding, Sask.

• Families grieve for 3 teens killed in crash
• Truck driver charged in crash that killed 3 Saskatchewan teens

In 2015,NormandMark JosephLavoie, 40,was charged with three counts of criminal negligence by driving causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

On Tuesday inMelfort, Sask.,provincial court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm in relationto a flag person who was also hurt.

According to senior Crown prosecutorTylaOlenchuk, these offences are included within the original charges.

The crash killed Carter Stevenson, 17, Justin Gaja, 14, and Kristian Skalicky, 15, all from Carrot River, Sask.

Flag person still recovering

Police said the car the boys were in, which was stopped behind a pickup truck, was rear-ended by the semi-truck Lavoie was driving.

The car, which Stevenson was driving, hit a pickup truck, which then struck a construction vehicle and flag personat the site.

The flag person ended up in a coma, but later regained consciousness the same year. He is still recovering from his injuries.

Olenchuk saidthe charges were changed based on an agreement between Crown and defence.

Family members of the teens were present in court on Tuesday. Olenchuk said it was a relatively brief appearance.

Lavoie is set to receive his sentencing on Aug. 22.