Quebec driver sentenced to 8 months after swerving to avoid ducks caused fatal collision
A Quebec driver who caused the death of another motorist when he swerved his truck to avoid hitting a family of ducks on the road has been sentenced to eight months in jail and a three-year driving ban.
Éric Rondeau, 48, must also pay a $1,000 fine as part of his sentencing after a jury found him guilty of dangerous driving causing death on Jan. 26.
Félix-Antoine Gagné, 19, was killed when his motorcycle collided with Rondeau's truck on July 22, 2019 in Sainte-Élizabeth, Que., about 80 kilometres north of Montreal. The court heard that Rondeau stopped his Ford F-150, which was towing a trailer, while he was travelling south on Route 345 after spotting the family of ducks crossing the road.
When the ducks stopped in the middle of a curve in the road, Rondeau's entire vehicle and trailer crossed the double yellow line to get around them. When he saw a motorcycle in the oncoming lane approach, he attempted to swerve out of the way back to the right lane, but Gagné crashed into the truck.
The deadly crash was captured on a surveillance camera of a nearby home.
At the time of the collision, Rondeau was travelling at about 18 km/h. The 19-year-old was travelling between 90 km/h and 100 km/h in a 70 km/h zone. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim's mother, Lynda Gagné, told the court about the "cruel" absence in her life following the death of her son.
"Clearly, no amount of punishment can replace this loss, nor erase these wounds," wrote Superior Court Justice Marc-André Blanchard in his sentencing judgment issued on Monday.
The collision was the result of a "dangerous manoeuvre with extraordinary recklessness" rather than an intentional act, according to the ruling.
Nevertheless, Blanchard said the fatal collision was "a heartbreaking tragedy for [the victim's] family and even for society as a whole."
The judge agreed with the Crown's request for an eight-month jail sentence, but ruled a five-year driving ban was too long. The defence had asked for a six-month suspended sentence.
Even though he was sentenced to jail on Monday, Rondeau's lawyer, Richard Dubé, confirmed to CTV News that the judge agreed to release him from custody pending the outcome of the appeal of his conviction and sentence.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.