A Paradise garage owner has pleaded guilty to 15 counts of forging vehicle inspection certificates in connection with a fatal crash on Peacekeepers Way almost four years ago.

Sixty-two-year-old Cecil Walsh was one of three men charged in the wake of the tragedy on June 7th of 2022.

The crash claimed the life of 56-year-old Duane Hutchings, the driver of a Toyota Corolla that was struck head-on by a big rig hauling a trailer.

At the time, the vehicles were in traffic slowing to pull over for police responding to a call.

Investigators found mechanical issues with the rig contributed to the crash, and that dozens of vehicle inspection certificates for it, and other big trucks and heavy equipment with local companies were either forged, or fraudulent.

Walsh and the 30-year-old truck driver first faced charges of criminal negligence causing death, which were later dropped due to new information received by the Crown, which they did not divulge.

The third man, a 69-year-old mechanic working for Walsh, admitted forging certificates and got a suspended sentence with a year of probation.

As for Walsh, lawyers have made a joint submission for three months’ house arrest and two months’ probation.

Prosecutor Alison Doyle noted offences involving such massive machinery always have the potential to be catastrophic, but she also pointed to the time and resources saved, and further grief avoided, with Walsh’s guilty pleas.

He’s due to be sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Trina Simms on Friday aftrernoon.