A 63-year-old truck driver has been sentenced to three years in a federal penitentiary after pleading guilty to impaired driving by drugs causing death.
The fatal incident occurred on April 24, 2024, in Montréal-Est, as a 37-year-old pedestrian was crossing Sherbrooke Street East. The recycling truck was making a left turn when the collision happened.
The driver, Bruno Lachance, maintained that he did not realize at the time that he had struck someone. The victim was pronounced dead shortly afterward at the scene.
When police arrived, officers observed several signs of impairment, including slow speech, constricted pupils and an unsteady gait. A blood test later confirmed the presence of cocaine, and an item used for drug consumption was found on him. The man, who suffers from multiple health issues and takes various medications, admitted to being an occasional cocaine user, stating that his last use had occurred a few days prior to the crash.
At the Montreal courthouse, the judge dismissed the notion of an unfortunate accident, emphasizing that the driver had chosen to get behind the wheel when he should not have. The sentence was intended to send a clear message about the unacceptability of impaired driving, particularly when operating a heavy vehicle. In addition to the prison term, the man was banned from driving for five years.
The victim’s family said the decision has deprived her three children and loved ones of many years of life and happiness.
