Drunk driver sentenced to 4 years in jail in death of Ashley Fogal
By Tracy McLaughlin ,Special to QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 04:31 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 07:14 PM EDT
People shed tears in a courtroom Wednesday as a judge sentenced a drunk driver who killed 23-year-old Ashley Fogal to four years in prison.
“This is a case of selfish, blatant disregard,” said Justice Michael Brown.
Christopher Dubreuil, 29, of Cobourg, pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing the death of Fogal, of Sharon, Ont., and to impaired driving causing serious bodily harm to her best friend and “soul mate,” Alyssa Blight, who suffered catastrophic injuries.
The two avid country fans were on their way to a Miranda Lambert concert at Casino Rama when Dubreuil drove his SUV into their vehicle at 143 km/h on Aug. 11, 2011.
Tests showed he had between 90 mg and 130 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood as well as a high level of the sedative, Lorazepam. Witnesses said his head was down as if texting and records show he received a text minutes before the crash.
Earlier that day, Dubreuil had left a drug rehab centre in Brooklin, north of Oshawa, picked up a bottle of booze, and headed to Casino Rama with a friend. He was spotted driving erratically and was seen backing into another vehicle in a store parking lot. Later, he was denied entry to the casino because he had no identification and had been drinking.
On his way back to Oshawa, he hit Fogal’s vehicle.
Despite broken bones, Dubreuil climbed out the sunroof of his rolled vehicle and stood as if in no pain and was later airlifted to hospital.
“This is an unspeakably tragic case,” said the judge. “There is no sentence I can impose to bring her back.”
In court, wiping tears away, Dubreuil said he suffers from nightmares of the incident.
“The words ‘I’m sorry’ seems so inadequate,” Dubreuil said in a written statement. “But if it matters or helps at all, I am more sorry than you will ever know.”
As family and friends who filled the courtroom wept, a police officer snapped on handcuffs and lead Dubreuil away.
Outside of Fogal’s mom said the sentence was a slap on the wrist.
“It hurts,” said Susan Fogal, quivering as she clutched a photograph of her daughter. “It hurts not just the family, but everyone, it tears people apart.”
Now memories of her daughter who worked with handicapped children are all she clings to.
“God wanted an angel,” said Fogal’s 81-year-old grandmother, Liz Mitchel, “so he took ours.”
Best friends Ashley Fogal, left, and Alyssa Blight shortly before leaving for a concert by country artist Miranda Lambert at Casino Rama Aug. 11, 2011. The women would be hit head-on and Fogal would die. (Supplied)
Drunk driver sentenced to 4 years in jail in death of Ashley Fogal | Ontario | N
By Tracy McLaughlin ,Special to QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 04:31 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 07:14 PM EDT
People shed tears in a courtroom Wednesday as a judge sentenced a drunk driver who killed 23-year-old Ashley Fogal to four years in prison.
“This is a case of selfish, blatant disregard,” said Justice Michael Brown.
Christopher Dubreuil, 29, of Cobourg, pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing the death of Fogal, of Sharon, Ont., and to impaired driving causing serious bodily harm to her best friend and “soul mate,” Alyssa Blight, who suffered catastrophic injuries.
The two avid country fans were on their way to a Miranda Lambert concert at Casino Rama when Dubreuil drove his SUV into their vehicle at 143 km/h on Aug. 11, 2011.
Tests showed he had between 90 mg and 130 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood as well as a high level of the sedative, Lorazepam. Witnesses said his head was down as if texting and records show he received a text minutes before the crash.
Earlier that day, Dubreuil had left a drug rehab centre in Brooklin, north of Oshawa, picked up a bottle of booze, and headed to Casino Rama with a friend. He was spotted driving erratically and was seen backing into another vehicle in a store parking lot. Later, he was denied entry to the casino because he had no identification and had been drinking.
On his way back to Oshawa, he hit Fogal’s vehicle.
Despite broken bones, Dubreuil climbed out the sunroof of his rolled vehicle and stood as if in no pain and was later airlifted to hospital.
“This is an unspeakably tragic case,” said the judge. “There is no sentence I can impose to bring her back.”
In court, wiping tears away, Dubreuil said he suffers from nightmares of the incident.
“The words ‘I’m sorry’ seems so inadequate,” Dubreuil said in a written statement. “But if it matters or helps at all, I am more sorry than you will ever know.”
As family and friends who filled the courtroom wept, a police officer snapped on handcuffs and lead Dubreuil away.
Outside of Fogal’s mom said the sentence was a slap on the wrist.
“It hurts,” said Susan Fogal, quivering as she clutched a photograph of her daughter. “It hurts not just the family, but everyone, it tears people apart.”
Now memories of her daughter who worked with handicapped children are all she clings to.
“God wanted an angel,” said Fogal’s 81-year-old grandmother, Liz Mitchel, “so he took ours.”
Best friends Ashley Fogal, left, and Alyssa Blight shortly before leaving for a concert by country artist Miranda Lambert at Casino Rama Aug. 11, 2011. The women would be hit head-on and Fogal would die. (Supplied)
Drunk driver sentenced to 4 years in jail in death of Ashley Fogal | Ontario | N
