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Cousin jailed for crash that killed Yk man
Both men ejected from vehicle after it rolled on Alberta roadway two years ago

Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 31, 2016

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An Alberta man has been sentenced to a year in jail for causing a vehicle accident that killed his cousin, 21-year-old Yellowknife resident Luke Charpentier.

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Luke charpentier died in a vehicle accident in Alberta two years ago. On Monday his cousin Dylan Charpentier was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to dangerous driving that caused his death. -

Luke Charpentier died Aug. 29, 2014 after his cousin Dylan Charpentier - who admitted to drinking alcohol before the accident - lost control of the vehicle he was driving near Coronation, Alta. Luke Charpentier was visiting family at the time. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt when the vehicle rolled at around 4:20 a.m.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented Monday in Alberta provincial court by Crown prosecutor Peter Mackenzie, the two had been drinking at a house party until the early morning hours.

They were taken back to Dylan's home by a designated driver. Luke was staying elsewhere and after being dropped off, Luke indicated he wanted to go back to where he was staying, according to the agreed facts.

"Dylan stated that he and Luke were listening to music and fooling around as they drove in his truck," according to the agreed facts.

"Dylan stated that he was speeding and saw that he was in the lane for oncoming traffic, he swerved and the next thing he knew was that he was in a field."

Both were ejected from the vehicle.

Luke was found alive by emergency crews and airlifted to Calgary but died.

Dylan was taken to hospital as well. RCMP spoke to him and learned he was speeding and driving in the wrong lane. The vehicle was going between 120 and 148 km/h in an area with a limit of 80 km/h when the crash happened. Dylan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced by Judge Paul Mason to 12 months in jail, a five-year driving prohibition and a $200 victim fine surcharge.

A victim impact statement from Luke's mother was also presented in court, although Yellowknifer wasn't able to access that document.

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