Impaired driver sentenced to 7 years after double-fatal Cambridge crash

A man who killed two people in a drunk driving crash was sentenced Friday to seven years behind bars.

The collision happened in Cambridge on May 12, 2022

Justin Maurice, who was then 21-years-old, was driving north on Hespeler Road when his Hyundai collided with the side of a Toyota going southbound.

The Toyota rolled over, killing 51-year-old Randy Turenne of Cambridge.

Maurice’s co-worker, 30-year-old Alexander Brown of Pickering, was also killed. He had been sitting beside Maurice in the Hyundai’s passenger seat.

Maurice was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Months later, he was charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of impaired operation causing death.

He pleaded guilty to those charges.

Victim impact statements read after deadly crash

Maurice’s sentencing

Court heard that Maurice had been driving more than double the speed limit and going 164 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. At the moment of impact with Turenne’s vehicle, Maurice was going 148 km/h.

“Mr. Maurice was driving at an exceptionally excessive speed, with a blood alcohol concentration at least double the legal limit, with a driving record for prior speeding offenses,” Justice Melanie Sopinka said.

On Friday morning, Maurice was sentenced to seven years in jail and is prohibited from driving for 10 years, minus the two years he’s already been off the roads. He’s also not allowed to own a weapon or ammunition.

“The task of arriving at an appropriate sentence in this matter is extremely difficult. On the one hand, Mr. Maurice is extremely youthful, entered a guilty plea and has tremendous support in the community and a bright future ahead of him,” Justice Melanie Sopinka explained.

Missing Randy

Kim Turenne, Randy’s widow, admits the sentence doesn’t take away her pain.

“There are no winners today. There are three families that are devastated and it shouldn't have happened,” Turenne told CTV News.

Despite her grief, she also has sympathy for Maurice’s family who were emotional during sentencing. Maurice, she added, is the same age as one of her kids.

“My heart goes out to her as a mother. I hope that he comes out and learns, and even more than that, that the public learns that drinking and driving is not okay,” she said.

Turenne hopes all three families can move on and start to heal.

She’s also determined to never forget her husband’s loving spirit.

“The bear hugs, the smiles, the way his personality filled a room,” Turenne recalled.

Kim and Randy Turenne share a glass of wine at a winery. (Courtesy: Kim Turenne)

A new mother grieves

Last month, there were tears as more than 20 victim impact statements were read in court.

Sabika Kashani was three months pregnant when her husband Alexander Brown was killed in the crash.

“Our daughter has been robbed of a father. We were stripped of a chance to be a family,” she told the court.

Brown asked the judge for justice, calling the "devastating consequences" too painful to bear.

Sabika Kashani and Alexander Brown on their wedding day. (Submitted: Sabika Kashani's family)

Maurice speaks in court

After the victim impacts statements were read, Maurice spoke of remorse and called his actions “careless.”

“If I could trade my life for theirs, I would … I’m deeply sorry for everything that has happened. There’s no excuse for my actions,” he said, in part.

Turenne believes him and doesn’t want Maurice or his family to experience any more pain.

“I think he honestly felt awful for the decision he made that night,” she said.