A remorseful driver has received a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence for impaired driving, resulting in the deaths of two parents. The incident, which occurred in 2016, left their 13-year-old son orphaned. After a lengthy legal process, the judge found the driver’s actions reckless, noting his continued traffic violations even after the tragedy. The victims’ families expressed relief at the verdict, with one mother stating she felt imprisoned by the grief for eight years.
Seven and a Half Years for Impaired Driving
A remorseful driver has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two parents. This decision concludes a protracted legal battle for the grieving families involved.
“It is with no honor that he decided to make us live an endless hell instead of taking responsibility and owning up. He tried to evade justice in every possible way, but now, enough is enough,” expressed Cédric Fortin, the brother of one of the deceased.
The Incident That Changed Lives Forever
On November 9, 2016, David Leblanc made a series of poor choices, driving under the influence with a beer in the cup holder and a case of twelve on the passenger seat. Traveling at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, he was texting moments before crashing head-on into the Mazda 3 of a family at an intersection on Route 116, in Montérégie.
Pierre Junior Brousseau, who was only 13 years old at the time, was left orphaned after this reckless act. He had just made a mandatory stop and was returning home with his partner, Émilie Fortin, and their daughter. The couple, both in their thirties, lost their lives in front of their child, leaving Anakyme Brousseau to navigate life without her parents.
During the court proceedings, both the Crown and the defense proposed a sentence of seven and a half years, a recommendation that Judge Serge Champoux deemed quite lenient. After careful consideration, he convicted Leblanc of impaired driving resulting in death and injury.
The judgment brought a sense of relief to the victims’ families, who felt a significant burden lifted. France Sawchuck, the mother of one victim, remarked, “I have felt like I am the one behind bars for eight years. It is time for this to end. I can finally bury my daughter and my son-in-law.”
Leblanc’s journey through the legal system has been tumultuous. Initially acquitted, he faced a retrial ordered by the Court of Appeal. He pleaded guilty but later attempted to retract his plea, which was denied after prolonged delays. Meanwhile, he continued to rack up traffic violations, including driving over the speed limit, even after taking two lives.
“He learned nothing, that man,” remarked the judge, locking eyes with the stoic defendant. The relatives of the victims shared the devastating impact that the avoidable collision had on their family. Pierre Junior Brousseau and Émilie Fortin were described as “perfect parents,” and their daughter, now 21, was notably absent from the hearing.
“It is inconceivable to see, day after day, parents and children lose their lives on the road due to impaired faculties. When will the noose tighten to make the irresponsible think?” questioned Mrs. Sawchuck passionately.
Throughout the testimonies, Leblanc displayed cold indifference, remaining “emotionless or outright yawning,” as criticized by the judge. Following his release from prison, the driver will also face a ten-year driving ban, a consequence of his reckless behavior.