An 18-year old has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence in what appears to be a case of car surfing in Drummondville, Que.
Jessyka Gauthier was originally charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm after her friend, 17-year-old Gabrielle Dionne, fell off the back of the car she was driving.
But, since then, Dionne died from her injuries.
On July 27, police reported that Dionne had been seated on the trunk of the car with another friend when she fell off and hit her head.
There were also two girls standing up on the roof, police said.
They said the car was going about 20 km/h.
A dozen friends of the two girls came to the Drummondville courthouse Friday.
Myriam Hammel, 20, said they're all still in shock.
"We know them both. It's hard to take," she said in French. "On one hand, there's Jessyka, on the other, there's Gab. We're not judging anyone. We're supportive." Gauthier could face a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison if convicted.
But Gauthier's lawyer, Bernard Bergeron, said the courts will have to take into account the circumstances in this case.
"These are young girls. You need to take that into consideration," he said in French.
Gauthier is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 2.
