A man responsible for the death of a 23-year-old woman in a head-on crash on Rama Road in 2011 has been sentenced to four years in jail.
“We all are feeling relieved and a little bit of justice,” says Ashley’s mom Susan Fogal.
A feeling the Fogal family have waited nearly three years for. On Wednesday the impaired driver, Christopher Dubreuil, who caused Ashley’s death and injured her friend was sentenced.
“I’m happy with the four years but the justice will never be because our friend, cousin, daughter is not here for us anymore,” added Ashley’s mom.
“When he is finished his sentence he will able to leave jail and hug his daughter – something that he robbed from my sister,” added Ashley’s Aunt Kathy Mitchell.
On August 11th, 2011, Ashley and her friend Alyssa Blight were on their way to a concert at Casino Rama when the SUV Dubreuil was driving slammed head-on into Fogal’s car. Ashley was killed and Alyssa survived.
In November, Dubreuil pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and bodily harm. The court had heard earlier that day Dubreuil was discharged from an Oshawa clinic for a prescription drug addiction and at the time of the crash he had between 90 and 130 miligrams of alcohol in his system and medication to treat anxiety.
When sentencing Dubreuil, Justice Michael Brown said, “This is an unspeakably tragic case caused by the conscious choice of Mr. Dubreuil to drive a motor vehicle, while his ability to drive that vehicle was impaired by alcohol and a drug.”
Justice Brown also added “The real tragedy in this case is that there is no sentence I can give today that can bring Ashley back or undo the wrong that caused the injuries to Alyssa or to repair the devastation family and friends have been forced to endure.”
Before handing down the sentence Justice Brown asked Dubreuil if he had anything to say but he didn’t say anything because he was too upset. Instead his lawyer read a prepared statement.
In that statement Dubreuil said, “I cannot find the words to express how deeply I regret what happened. My nightmares and pain will last a lifetime.” He then added, “I will forever have to live with the fact that a young woman was killed and another was hurt and families were so affected.”
Dubreuil’s lawyer Alan Risen was asking for a shorter sentence of two years in jail.
“We knew the crown was seeing 3 to 5 years so he was prepared for anything in that range. He’s accepted responsibility for what he did and has apologized for it.”
Kim Butler is with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and says even though the families and MADD are pleased with this sentence it doesn’t go far enough to deter others from getting behind the wheel impaired.
“If they knew they could and would get life in prison which you could get – that would deter people but as of yet no one seems willing to step up to the plate and offer that sentence.”
For now Ashley and Alyssa’s families say they will continue to focus their grief on spreading awareness and lobbying for stiffer sentences.
Along with a four year jail sentence, Christopher Dubreuil must provide a DNA sample and will not be allowed to drive for ten years.
