A Red Deer man was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday for a 2016 Canada Day crash that killed two teens and injured two others.
Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Bill Hopkins also banned Dylan Beauclair from driving for 10 years after his release from prison.
Beauclair, 21, was convicted in April of two counts each of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
Beauclair was driving at least 120 km/h before losing control on a rural road just east of the city and smashing into a utility pole.
Rear passengers Ashleigh Smith, 16, of Springbrook, and John Dolliver, 18, of Penhold, were thrown from the 2008 Grand Prix and died at the scene at around 11:25 p.m.
Lexie Martin, 17 at the time, suffered three broken ribs, back fractures and facial injuries.
Beauclair’s girlfriend, Shaylene Taberner, also 17, had neck and back injuries.
In sentencing, Hopkins said he had the deepest sympathy for all the loved ones affected by the tragedy, which he said had a “horrific impact” on their lives.
Beauclair had no intention of killing or injuring anyone as he sped along country roads to get one of his passengers home, but his conduct was criminal, he said.
Hopkins accepted the remorse of Beauclair, who continues to struggle daily with his role in the deaths and injuries of four others.
He noted that Beauclair’s father said the trauma had “crushed his son’s soul.”
Beauclair had a troubled childhood, smoking marijuana at an early age. He was struggling with cocaine and methamphetamine use in his mid teens, when he moved to Vancouver to get clean. He is bipolar and suffers from anxiety and depression.
Taberner was in court to support her boyfriend and sobbed when he was sentenced. Outside court, she said, “He doesn’t deserve it. He’s a good person.”
Smith’s father, Peter Smith, declined to comment following the sentencing, saying if he had nothing good to say, he preferred to remain silent.
Crown prosecutors had asked for a sentence in the range of four years, with a 10-year driving prohibition. The defence asked for a 2 1/2-year sentence and a five-year driving ban.
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
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