Sisters of the Assumption hold vigil for hit and run victim

Shrouded in grief family, friends and coworkers of Claudette Benoit came together to painfully retrace the final steps she made Thursday as she walked home at the end of her work day.

At 3:04pm Wednesday Benoit was the vicitm of a hit and run and succumed to her injuries.

With assistance from North Bay Police and Firefighters, sisters of the Sisters of the Assumption, where Benoit had worked over the last 17 years, led a noon hour vigil at the corner of Wyld and Victoria Street Friday in celebration of Benoit life.

Benoit’s husband Donald made a tearful speech in French and English thanking everyone for their assistance Thursday.

Searching for some saving grace in this horrible tragedy Benoit’s brother in law, Orval Mathie says the event could have been even worse as moments later children from St. Vincent school would have been on the street heading home.

“So in a way maybe she saved their lives,” he told reporters.

"She was a great lady she'd give you everything she had just to help you."



A 31 year old city man has been arrested and charged with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, fail to stop at the scene of a collision causing death, and drive while under suspension.