A Chatham woman who pleaded guilty to killing an elderly Sarnia couple in a head-on crash will be spending the next five years behind bars.
Sarah Suitor, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving by drug causing death in April and was sentenced to five years in jail at a Chatham courtroom on Thursday afternoon after a joint submission by the prosecution and the defence.
Suitor is also banned from driving for five years after her sentence is done and will be required to attend drug and alcohol counselling and mental health services while in jail. Suitor had the other charges of dangerous driving causing death and possession of fentanyl withdrawn. The judge took into account that she had a limited criminal record with a 10 year gap and she spared the court and the seniors' family an emotional trial.
Suitor will not get the benefit of time already served.
The court heard that she has struggled with substance abuse since the death of her grandfather and that her mother died when she was 14-years-old. Suitor also did not know her biological father and had few relationships growing up, according to her lawyer Frank Retar.
The victim impact statements were not read out loud in court.
Retar hopes the best days are ahead of her if she gets the help she needs for her addiction.
Suitor has a 22-year-old daughter and is engaged to be married.
Assistant Crown James Boonstra said impaired driving is an occurrence that happens too often and needs to stop.
The collision took place on Highway 40 near Wallaceburg 28 months ago. Rose Hills, 87, and her husband William Hills, 88, both from Sarnia, died from their injuries. Mrs.Hills died in the hospital from her injuries while her husband was pronounced dead at the scene.
Suitor received minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital.
