A Brandon woman says she forgives a driver who hit and killed her elderly mother more than a year ago.

The collision happened at a crosswalk in October 2010.

The driver pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death.

On Dec. 22, a judge fined the man for the crash. 

Family members described Dorothy McMillan, 82, as independent and outgoing.

"We were more than just mother, daughter. We were best friends," said Valerie McMillan, Dorothy's daughter.

Valerie's mother was on her way on her mobility to get coffee for her nursing staff at Valleyview Care Centre in Brandon in October 2010.

As she was crossing Victoria Avenue, she was hit by a van. 

Valerie McMillan says that at first she was angry following the crash.

Then she met the driver face to face.

"I could tell right then that he was a very, very nice man and did not set out to hurt anyone that day. And he hadn't even gotten a parking ticket – nothing at all," she said.

Speed, alcohol and distracted driving were not factors in the crash.

On Dec. 22, Tim Routsis from Winnipeg was fined $4,000 for careless driving causing death.

When contacted by CTV News, he said he had driven that Victoria Avenue route several times before, but didn't see Dorothy McMillan at the crosswalk that day.

According to the Crown, Routsis passed a vehicle in the right lane as it was braking for McMillan near the crosswalk, when the collision happened. 

"He couldn't say enough how sorry he was," said Valerie McMillan.

The Crown also confirmed Routsis was remorseful. That had an impact on the penalty he received.

During sentencing, Valerie McMillan said she forgave him. She said he had suffered enough and didn't mean to cause the crash.

"I would like to have seen no fine. And I did ask the judge, ‘Please don't give him a fine," she said.

Valerie McMillan doesn't think a stiffer penalty would have sent a message to other drivers. Still, she wants motorists to be careful around crosswalks to prevent other tragedies from happening.

According to the Crown, Routsis will not face any driving ban as part of his penalty.

- with a report from CTV's Josh Crabb