Teen driver charged after man on riding lawnmower killed in fatal collision in North Dumfries

Teen driver charged after man on riding lawnmower killed in fatal collision in North Dumfries

Police say driver was going 191 km/h in a 50 km/h zone

A 16-year-old girl from Cambridge, Ont., has been charged in connection with a fatal collision that killed a 51-year-old man from North Dumfries Township last month.

Nathan Smith, 51, was cutting grass on Clyde Road with a riding lawn mower just after 10 a.m. on June 15 when he was struck by a BMW. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said a 16-year-old girl from Cambridge was driving the car. She was not injured.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service announced Wednesday that the girl has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, speeding and two counts of stunt driving.

In connection with the speeding charge, police allege the driver was travelling 191 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

Police did not initially say whether anyone else was in the vehicle, but now say there were three passengers. The passengers, all Cambridge youths ages 15, 16 and 17, have each been charged with two counts of failing to comply with a release order.

In October 2025, four teenagers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after their vehicle left Clyde Road and struck a hydro pole.

Police said it appeared the driver, a 15-year-old girl from Cambridge, lost control of the vehicle.

The passengers — two boys and one girl, all from Cambridge — were taken to hospital by land and air ambulance.

Asked whether the teenagers involved in the October crash and the June collision were the same, Const. Melissa Quarrie told CBC News, "these collisions are not related."

Neighbours call for safety measures

At a township council meeting on June 22, two residents from the Clyde Road area, John Duench and Ashley Elzinga, called for traffic-calming measures.

During the presentation, Duench read a letter to council from Smith's daughter, Jasmine Smith.

"If I had a dollar for every speeding car that went by, I'd be able to afford a house on Clyde Road myself. At best, the sounds were an annoyance, at worst it was the death of my father," the letter said.

In the letter, Jasmine Smith asked for speed bumps and cameras and implored council to act.

"Do it for my father. Do it for the current and future residents for Clyde and those passing through. No one should have to feel unsafe and unheard in their community," the letter said.

"If some action had been taken sooner, I believe my dad would have finished mowing the lawn. He would have gone back inside and continued his day. I would have seen him again."

Kate is the producer for CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. She has been covering issues in southern Ontario for more than 20 years. Reach her by email: kate.bueckert@cbc.ca.