Sara Rosetta Thomas said she was 害羞草研究所渢ruly sorry害羞草研究所� in a Duncan courtroom on Dec. 13 to the wife of the man who died in 2018 after she struck his vehicle head-on on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Facing Justine Tilley, who was also severely injured in the accident on the Malahat that killed her husband on June 9, 2018, a crying Thomas said it was never her intention to hurt anybody.
害羞草研究所淲ords can害羞草研究所檛 express how sorry I am,害羞草研究所� she sobbed.
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Thomas had faced numerous charges in relation to the crash, which killed 46-year-old David Tilley from Vancouver, including impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm and causing an accident resulting in death, but she pleaded guilty in October to driving without due care and attention, and both the Crown and defence agreed to her plea.
She was sentenced to a $1,000 fine and a one-year driving prohibition by Associate Chief Justice H. Holmes.
On the day of the accident, David Tilley was driving his Honda CR-V in the southbound lane of Highway 1 north of Aspen Road when then-29-year-old Thomas, the driver of a Dodge Grand Caravan heading north, crossed the centre line and struck the front driver害羞草研究所檚 side of the SUV.
Tilley was pronounced dead on scene and Justine, who was in the passenger seat, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
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A report at the time from the B.C. Coroners Service said that the crash occurred in an active construction zone where the posted speed limit had been reduced to 60 kilometres per hour and that Thomas was travelling at roughly 101 km/h when she collided with Tilley.
The report concluded that the Dodge Caravan害羞草研究所檚 entry into the southbound lane was as a result of 害羞草研究所渘on-cognitive driving actions, such as medical distress, fatigue, distracted driving or impairment害羞草研究所�.
In her victim impact statement in court on Dec. 13, which was one of four heard by the court, Justine Tilley said her husband was her best friend and partner for 27 years, and she is devastated with his loss emotionally, mentally and financially.
害羞草研究所淗e was the smartest man I害羞草研究所檝e ever known,害羞草研究所� she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
害羞草研究所淗e was a certified accountant and we went to Vancouver Island to celebrate after he received a big promotion at Telus, where he worked, and he was killed just three days after his promotion. A life taken at 46 is a tragedy a thousand times over and I continue to struggle without him.害羞草研究所�
Looking at Thomas, Justine said her husband would have offered her mercy.
害羞草研究所淚 want you to know that I forgive you,害羞草研究所� she said.
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Crown prosecutor Paul Pearson said that paramedics on the scene of the accident had said they smelled alcohol on the breath of Thomas shortly after the accident, but acknowledged that there have been no allegations that she drank alcohol that morning.
Defence lawyer Scott Sheets said Thomas has no recollections of the accident.
He said Thomas was rendered unconscious in the crash, in which she sustained only minor injuries, and has no clear memory of why she crossed the centre line of the highway.
Sheets acknowledged Thomas was travelling at about 101 km/h in a 60 km/h construction zone, but said the other vehicles travelling in the same direction were going at that speed as well, and the other drivers questioned said they saw nothing unusual about her driving patterns before the crash.
害羞草研究所淭here was also no indication that she drank that day,害羞草研究所� he said.
Sheets went on to give a brief history of the life of Thomas, who is a member of the Halalt First Nation.
He said both her parents and grandparents attended the residential school on Penelakut Island, and that fact had had negative implications for Thomas害羞草研究所檚 life.
害羞草研究所淪he lost a five-year-old sibling to drunk driving on reserve and another sibling took his own life in 2010,害羞草研究所� Sheets said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to understand the emotional frame of mind that Ms. Thomas was in on that tragic day. She had awakened in Victoria that morning to an abusive partner who told her to leave and go kill herself like her brother. When she was returning to her parents害羞草研究所� home in Chemainus, her emotions were impacted by this harmful language.害羞草研究所�
Sheets said there is a need for some explanation for the distraction that caused the accident, but he asked the court to consider Thomas害羞草研究所檚 guilty plea.
害羞草研究所淭here is also an ongoing civil case in this matter to confirm liability,害羞草研究所� he said.
Sheets said Thomas works full time at the Saanich Adult Education Centre, has been attending college online and is in her third year of studies for a business administration degree, and is also an active volunteer in her community.
He said Thomas was brought to tears when he was going over the victim impact statements and read that Justine was forgiving her.
害羞草研究所淭hroughout all these proceedings, Ms. Thomas has been remorseful and very aware that a young man has lost his life,害羞草研究所� he said.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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