Top stories of 2021: man sentenced in fatal impaired hit & run in Parksville

Grob, Moore and several other mutual friends were partying at the Rod & Gun Bar and Grill during the hours leading up to the incident.

An agreed statement of facts heard bar staff cut Grob off from buying more drinks due to his intoxication level and aggressive behaviour.

An excessively drunk Grob left the bar On Aug. 24 around 2:30 a.m. after an argument with a man who told him he shouldn’t be driving.

Grob then got in his lifted F350 pick-up and peeled out of the bar parking lot and and headed down Hirst Ave. toward McMillan St. when Grob’s truck hit and instantly killed Moore, who was on the street at the time.

The impact made a loud bang and popping sound, while Moore was dragged down the street by the truck, which did not stop.

A trailing motorist stopped and called 911, but nothing could be done to save Moore, who was killed instantly from blunt force trauma.

An RCMP crash re-constructionist estimated Grob’s truck was traveling upwards of 90 kilometres per hour in the 50 kilometre per hour zone.

While Grob’s behaviour that night was highly disturbing, he failed to initially take responsibility for his actions.

Grob’s post-offence conduct was particularly egregious.

Court was told Grob admitted to running somebody over hours after the incident. Over the following several weeks he lied to police during their investigation, claiming he wasn’t responsible and that his truck was stolen.

Grob continued driving as a prohibited driver after Moore’s death.

“Mr. Grob’s multiple actions to deceive police were reprehensible. On top of the false police report, the further recruitment of two friends in perpetuating a falsehood to the police is aggravating,” provincial court Judge Karen Whonnock said.

Family members of the offender and victim were in attendance during the proceedings, with tears ever-present

Emotionally charged impact statements were read out, including from the victim’s older brother Brandon Moore.

“The situation can only be compared to instantly being pushed out of a 10-storey window without having a second to react,” he wrote. “Not having time to comprehend what just happened and instantly flying into the unknown, unaware of how you got here and not sure you’re going to land.”

Brandon said he and his loved ones are serving life sentences, describing Spencer as a genuine, non-judgmental person who cared immensely for family and friends.

Grob’s lawyer said his client’s life derailed after separating with his wife in 2018, resulting in falling further into despair with increased alcohol and drug use.

Grob reported he “went off the deep-end” after the the separation and has not seen his children since Moore’s death.

In pre-sentence reports Grob stated his willingness to take residential treatment programs for his alcohol and drug misuse.

The sentencing range for impaired driving causing death usually spans between two and 10 years in jail.

Travis Zackery Taylor, who was Grob’s passenger, is scheduled be sentenced on an obstruction charge in the new year.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Top stories of 2021: man sentenced in fatal impaired hit & run in Parksville

More Local News