Windsor motorist who killed two apologizes to grieving families: 'DEEPLY SORRY'
Defence seeks 'significant fine' of $5,000 to $7,000, two years' probation and four-year driving ban
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CHATHAM — Nearly three years after two people were killed in a tragic multi-vehicle collision near Chatham, the pain and suffering still felt by loved ones dominated a sentencing hearing on Wednesday for a Windsor motorist.
“Everything in my life changed forever,” Ruth Huckle, mother of Jaimee Doyle, said in one of several victim impact statements read out in court by assistant Crown attorney Ryan Iaquinta.
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Grieving words were a dominant part of the hearing at Chatham’s Provincial Offences Court for Brett Iler, 33, found guilty last Nov. 29 of two counts of dangerous driving causing death and three counts of careless driving causing injury.
The convictions stem from a May 27, 2022, crash that killed good friends Jaimee Doyle, 28, and Nigel Sedge, 29, as they took part in a Retro Fest classic car cruise on Queen’s Line, west of Chatham.
Family members shared how they continue to struggle with the loss of Sedge and Doyle, who were fatally injured when Iler’s eastbound SUV veered 1.2 metres into the westbound lane at the S bend near Dillon Road, setting off a deadly four-vehicle crash. The crash also severely injured Doyle’s husband Kyle Doyle and friends Brian Griffith and Colin Chinnick.
Sedge and Doyle were loved by family and friends and had a shared love of classic vehicles, the court heard this week.
Sedge’s unexpected death “crushed us to the core,” said his mother Sandra, who held a photo of her son.
Noting she continues to struggle with the anger over the tragedy, Sedge’s mother spoke of her son not being able to live out a promising life he was building for himself that included a successful flooring business. She added his future of getting married and having children was also taken away.
“I will love and miss Nigel every day until we meet again,” she said. She feels IIer has “never once shown any remorse for what he did.”
Doyle’s mother Ruth Huckle said every Friday at 6:55 p.m., the time of the fatal crash, and the 27th day of the month and especially May 27, she feels the pain and hurt of losing her daughter.
Noting she misses her daughter’s laughter, smile and dimples, Huckle said: “There will never be closure.”
Doyle’s husband Kyle Doyle, in a victim impact statement read by Iaquinta, spoke about losing “my best friend and the love of my life.”
He spoke about being in hospital with serious injuries, unable to hold his wife one last time.
“I feel I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye properly,” he said. “My heart’s forever broken and no amount of time will ever heal the pain.”
Kyle Doyle also spoke of the loss of Sedge, described as a great friend with whom he would talk for hours.
After hearing from the families of the victims, Iler addressed the court to say he was sorry, saying he wished Doyle and Sedge were still alive and he was dead.
Noting he became a registered nurse with a goal of helping people, Iler said he never imagined causing such pain and suffering for others.
Iler said the fatal crash “has changed the course of my life and I’m deeply sorry.”
During the proceeding, the defence and Crown gave their positions on an appropriate sentence.
Iaquinta told the court the Crown is seeking a jail sentence of 10 to 12 months, along with the maximum five-year driving ban.
Iler’s lawyer Alexandra Cardella suggested her client be made to pay a “significant fine” of $5,000 to $7,000, placed on two years probation and handed a four-year driving ban.
Cardella noted her client admitted to driving the vehicle and causing the crash that resulted in death and injury, but added he was not impaired, speeding or under a licence suspension at the time. The issue she said is Iler’s “brief lapse of attention.”
Iler testified during trial that yawning and momentarily closing his eyes was the last thing he remembered befor the crash.
The Crown noted aggravating factors include the deaths of two people and serious injuries suffered by three others; multiple vehicles being involved; Iler being aware of the cruise happening and the S bend in the road; and being charged a year before the crash with driving while using a handheld device.
Justice of the peace Kelly Jackson delivers her sentencing decision on April 23.
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