The son of a Vernon cab driver who was killed by a drinking driver is satisfied with the sentence handed out. 20 year old Dallas Smithson was given 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death, and causing bodily harm. Provincial court judge Mark Takahashi also gave out a five year driving ban, one year probation and will have to give a DNA sample. He drove through a stop sign and ran into a taxi in April 2008, killing cab driver Howard Collins. Smithson who was 18 at the time, and going home from a party, had a blood alcohol level of .165, two times over the legal limit.
The victim's son Andrew Collins says he respects the decision. "I would have liked to have seen it higher but the judge he did a good job. He definitely gave a fair sentence. I feel bad for him (Smithson). He's very young and he's got to go to jail for a while, that's really unfortunate for him but he seemed fairly ready to take on his responsibilities for what happened." 29 year old Jeremy Lutter of Victoria suffered hand and neurological damage in the crash, and admits to mixed feelings about the sentence. "It seemed awfully lenient to me for someone who killed someone but I understand the circumstances and having seen him, and been through it, I completely understand why it happened but I have mixed emotions."
Smithson had no previous record, and wrote a letter of apology to the victims family, saying it was the "worst mistake of my life" and "I hope one day you will be able to forgive me."About 50 friends and relatives of both the accused the victim were on hand at the Vernon courthouse for the sentencing
Monday, November 02, 2009
Drunk Driving Death Results in Prison
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