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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A remorseful drunk driver who spun off Driscoll Road and caused significant damage to a house and yard before fleeing the scene was ordered to pay a hefty price in territorial court on June 30.

"I am sorry and I accept complete responsibility for what I did," said the 18-year-old first-time offender before being ordered by Judge Garth Malakoe to pay $3,438 in restitution to the homeowner for the damage in addition to a $1,380 fine for impaired driving. Previously, the young man was also fined $575 by a justice of the peace for leaving the scene of the accident. In addition, Judge Malakoe banned him from driving for 18 months.

The incident occurred at around 1 a.m. on May 21 when the young man, behind the wheel of a white Ford F-150 pickup truck speeding down Driscoll Road, lost control and struck the house before backing up and continuing down the street toward Niven Drive, according to the facts reported by Crown prosecutor Angie Paquin. A witness said he saw a "shower of sparks" as the car drove away from the scene on a blown-out tire.

The RCMP located the damaged truck about 10 minutes later at a Niven Drive residence. The driver told the police he knew why they were there and immediately admitted to causing the accident. The Mounties arrested him on suspicion of impaired driving after noticing he had slurred speech and watery, blood-shot eyes, said Paquin, who added the youth was "wobbling from side to side" on his way to the police car. At the Yellowknife detachment, he provided two breathalyzer samples - both registering 140 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, well over the legal limit of 80 mg.

On May 26, Yellowknifer was told that the truck didn't hit the house but rather that the truck smashed into two large rocks on the front lawn that, in turn, struck the house.

Paquin requested a fine in the range of $1,400-$1,600, a 12-18 month driving ban and a restitution order. She said the early guilty plea at the man's first court appearance on June 28 and the fact he co-operated fully with police were taken into consideration. However, she also noted the aggrevating features of the offence: that he was in an accident and fled the scene.

Thomas Boyd, the man's lawyer, requested the minimum punishment of a $1,000 fine and a 12-month driving band on behalf of his client. Boyd told the court his client is truly remorseful, especially since he went to see the homeowner after the incident and apologize. Boyd added his client is employed full-time at the Yellowknife Airport and would be able to pay a restitution order if one was imposed.

Before sentencing the offender, Malakoe lectured him for several minutes on the dangers of drinking and driving, and how the situation could have been worse had he killed someone.

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