A Sai’kuz woman who was behind the wheel during a fatal crash two years ago had a history of going off the road while driving drunk.
In what provincial court judge Cassandra Malfair called a “darkly prophetic incident,” in June 2014 Desiree Dawn Patrick, 28, had taken a vehicle without the owner’s consent and crashed while driving on the reserve south of Vanderhoof.
She was the only person in the vehicle and no one else was hurt on that occasion.
Sixteen months later, she pulled a similar stunt, but this time there was someone in the car with her. During the early morning of Oct. 3, 2015 Patrick lost control and struck a telephone pole while going 120 km/h in a 50 km/h zone near the intersection of Highway 16 and Berkshire Street in Fort Fraser.
The passenger in the car, Joseph Davis, died from his injuries less than a hour afterwards.
Prior to the crash, Patrick had been hosting a party at her home in Sai’kuz. Over the course of the night, she had consumed at least four litres of wine coolers and some beer.
The party eventually broke up and the car’s owner was asleep in the home. Patrick took the keys out of his pocket and drove to Fraser Lake in search of more intoxicants, picking up Davis along the way.
Patrick was knocked unconscious when she struck the pole but quickly awakened and excitedly repeated she needed to leave because she did not have a driver’s licence. Patrick had been on probation and under a driving prohibition for the previous incident.
Samples taken two hours later showed a blood-alcohol level of .189.
In reviewing Patrick’s personal circumstances, Malfair noted a troubled upbringing. Alcoholism and abuse were themes as was the fallout from having parents who went to residential school. Patrick also expressed what Malfair found to be genuine remorse for Davis’s death and a desire to change her ways.
However, Malfair largely agreed with Crown prosecution’s position that a four-year sentence was in order. She eventually decided on 3 1/2 years, less 20 months credit for time served prior to sentencing, leaving 22 months to go. Defence counsel had been seeking time served and probation.
Patrick, who was also issued a five-year driving prohibition, was sentenced in Vanderhoof in June and the decision was recently posted online.
