By Paul Pedro July 7, 2022 at 7:50 pm
A Chatham woman who pleaded guilty to killing an elderly Sarnia couple in a head-on crash will spend the next five years behind bars.
Sara Suitor, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving causing death by drugs in April and was sentenced to five years in prison in a Chatham courtroom Thursday afternoon after a joint presentation by the prosecution and defense.
Suitor is also prohibited from driving for five years after serving his sentence and will have to attend drug and alcohol counseling and mental health services while in prison. Suitor’s other charges of dangerous driving causing death and possession of fentanyl were withdrawn. The judge took into account that she has a limited criminal record 10 years apart and spared the court and the elderly family an emotional trial.
The suitor will not take advantage of time already served.
The court heard that she struggled with substance abuse after the death of her grandfather and that her mother died when she was 14. The suitor also did not know her biological father and had few relationships growing up, according to her attorney, Frank Rettar.
Victim impact statements were not read aloud in court.
Retar hopes her best days are ahead of her if she gets the help she needs for her addiction.
The suitor has a 22-year-old daughter and is engaged to be married.
Assistant Crown James Boonstra said impaired driving is a phenomenon that happens far too often and needs to stop.
The collision happened on Interstate 40 near Wallaceburg 28 months ago. Rose Hills, 87, and her husband, William Hills, 88, both of Sarnia, died from their injuries. Mrs Hills died in hospital from her injuries while her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suitor suffered minor injuries, was treated and released from the hospital.
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