A 28-year-old man was issued a four year prison sentence followed by a five year driving ban for impaired driving causing death. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Impaired driving

Man sentenced in Nanaimo for impaired driving causing death in Ontario

Aug 15, 2022 | 6:43 AM

NANAIMO — A reckless case of impaired driving involving a speeding car hitting and killing a cyclist resulted in a four year prison sentence.

Justin Jinil Stevens, 28, was handed the sentence in provincial court in Nanaimo in connection to the death of Scott Kramer, a man in his mid 40’s who was hit at a high rate of speed on Feb 1 2020 near Cambridge, Ont.

Stevens, born in Nanaimo and raised in Courtenay, moved away from Ontario following the senseless incident.

Prior to a judge accepting a joint sentence recommendation, court was told Stevens was estimated to be driving more than 160 kilometers an hour in an 80 km/h zone when he lost control of his BMW on a curve.

Kramer was thrown from his bike and pronounced dead on scene.

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An agreed statement of facts heard Stevens told a crash scene bystander that he had been drinking and driving.

Stevens repeated the admission to police minutes later, telling officers he consumed six beers prior to driving.

He failed a pair of police-issued breath samples.

The lower of the two readings was 109 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millimeters of blood — above the 80 milligram legal threshold.

Stevens told police during an interview several hours after the early morning crash that he had a problem with alcohol.

His car was determined to be mechanically sound prior to the collision.

Stevens’ lawyer Chris Churchill read out an apologetic statement on behalf of his client.

“I wish I could go back and change what happened, I wish that my poor choices didn’t take the life of an innocent man…”

Churchill told court Stevens has not consumed a drop of alcohol since the incident.

Stevens was visibly distraught at times during the hearing held on Friday, Aug. 12.

Judge Sheila Archer emphasized the fact Stevens deliberately decided to drink and drive.

“The outcome in this circumstance was tragic and abhorrent because it was a decision that Mr. Stevens made himself,” judge Archer said.

Stevens was also handed a five year driving ban to take effect upon his release from jail.

He had no prior criminal record, while his prior driving history was marked by a single case of driving without registration.

Court was told the sentence recommendation crafted by lawyers in Ontario is within the range of similar cases in Canada.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes