A Saanich man who drove the wrong way on the Patricia Bay Highway, seriously injuring two people, has been found not criminally responsible by reason of a mental disorder.
Jonathan Michael Wood was arrested on Jan. 19, 2014, after a number of accidents and run-ins with police. At one point, Wood, who suffers from bipolar disorder, was seen sobbing and hugging a totem pole at the top of the Malahat.
He was taken from the police station to Royal Jubilee Hospital where he was admitted and remained under the care of his doctor for three weeks, said his lawyer, Dale Marshall.
After his release from hospital in mid-February, Wood appeared in court and was released on conditions. He was also assessed on an outpatient basis by a forensic psychiatrist, who found Wood was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence.
In June, Wood appeared before Victoria provincial court Judge Robert Higinbotham and pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
Higinbotham found Wood was not criminally responsible for his actions. He referred Wood to the B.C. Review Board. On July 2, after a full hearing, the board gave Wood an absolute discharge.
“There was no reason to keep him under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Review Board because he was not deemed to be a serious risk,” Marshall said.
Wood, 29, has no criminal record, said his lawyer.
“He has been successfully dealing with his illness for several years. But in January, his medication had been changed and he changed the time of the day he was taking it.
“He forgot to take it for a few days and that led to the events in January,” Marshall said. “Mr. Wood has since stabilized and has very good insight and has taken full responsibility.”
In 2013, Wood graduated with honours from the University of Victoria with a bachelor’s degree in social work. He works full time at the Cridge Centre with people who have head injuries, and plans to attend graduate school in Toronto this fall.
“He’s doing very well. He’s a responsible guy who had an unfortunate break from this medication,” Marshall said.
The incident began about 1 a.m. on Jan. 19 when Wood, behind the wheel of a red 1968 MG convertible, was stopped by Victoria police for a passing-lane violation.
About an hour later, he rear-ended a taxi at Bay and Blanshard streets. He got out of the car, then got back inside and drove away.
At 3 a.m., police saw Wood driving erratically through the intersection of Douglas and Yates streets. When they tried to stop him, he sped off. Police did not pursue him to avoid a dangerous chase.
At 4:23 a.m., Wood was spotted by Shawnigan Lake RCMP. The MG was parked on the side of the Malahat highway with the driver’s door open.
About 7 a.m., two people saw Wood sobbing and hugging a totem pole at the Malahat summit. He approached their vehicle, and laughed hysterically when they spoke to him. The couple saw Wood a short time later, pointing and laughing as he hung off the Malahat summit sign.
A few hours later, someone reported a near-collision with a red MG at Chatterton Way and Quadra Street.
About 10:45 a.m., witnesses told police they saw Wood driving north in the southbound lane on the Pat Bay Highway past the Royal Oak off-ramp at high speed. He hit a white van with a driver and two passengers. One of the passengers suffered serious injuries to one of her hands.
