By paNOW

Sentencing arguments heard for semi-driver accused in death of 3 teens

Aug 22, 2017 | 2:59 PM

The man accused in the crash that killed three Carrot River teens in 2015 had his sentencing arguments heard Tuesday in Melfort’s Court of Queens Bench.

Normand Mark Joseph Lavoie, now 41, claimed he was on “auto pilot” when the teens were killed. Lavoie’s semi rear-ended a stopped car in a construction zone that caused a chain-reaction crash, killing Justin Gaja, 14, Kristian Skalicky, 15, and Carter Stevenson, 17 who were on their way home from football camp. His semi pushed their car into another vehicle, which also struck and severely injured a 21-year-old flag operator, Samuel Fetherston.

Lavoie, originally from Winnipeg, was set to stand trial in June but entered a guilty plea to three counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm in May.

In the agreed statement of facts, the court heard Lavoie, when asked what happened prior to the collision, stated that “with it being Saskatchewan, it’s flat and kind of just go into auto pilot” and did not recall seeing the six signs showing he was about to enter the construction zone.

He said he was alerted by his dog but stated this didn’t snap him out of anything. He said he “looked back quickly [at the dog] and then I turned back and there’s the back end of the car.”

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Lavoie later participated in a sleep analysis and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. In the agreed statement of facts, when asked if he was sleeping when the incident occurred , Lavoie replied “no” but later admitted to being tired.

His defence lawyer Mike Nolan said there was no way to establish whether or not Lavoie did fall asleep at the wheel, but his client did take responsibility for his actions. 

“I understand that I did something wrong,” Lavoie told the court. He added how he had contemplated taking his own life over the matter and was “prepared for what is to come.”

The court also learned that Lavoie lost his mother and grandmother to a truck driving incident was he was young. This motivated him to become a truck driver so what happened to him would never happen to another family. To this he said he had “failed catastrophically.”

Prior to this, victim impact statements from the families were heard. During these, Lavoie broke down numerous times.

The most harrowing came from the mother of Justin who said “the day I now look forward to is the day I take my last breath.”

The Crown asked for a six-year sentence, followed by a nine-year driving ban. They cited numerous deaths and Lavoie’s reckless behaviour as factors for the lengthy sentence. The Crown added how Lavoie, as a professional driver, bore a special responsibility to public safety while on the road.

The defence argued for a sentence of two years plus a day, on the request of Lavoie, who wanted a federal term so there is a chance he can be closer to his family in Manitoba.

The sentencing decision was adjourned until Sept. 11 in Melfort.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr