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Sentencing for drunk driver who killed three men near Pemberton

PEMBERTON (NEWS 1130) – A man who pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death in a tragic crash near Pemberton two years has learned his fate.

A judge has sentenced 46-year-old Samuel Alec to eight years and four months behind bars, which will result in six years when you factor in time served. He has also been slapped with a 15-year driving ban, which will begin when he is released from prison. Crown Counsel had been asking that Alec receive a 12-year sentence and a 15 to 18-year driving ban, while the defence had pushed for a four-year sentence behind bars.

In May of 2015, Alec’s car, which was on a portion of the Sea to Sky Highway that doesn’t have a paved shoulder, went off the road hitting and killing two cyclists. The two were members of the Whistler Cycling Club and were later identified as 53-year-old Kelly Blunden and 50-year-old Ross Chafe. Both died at the scene.

A passenger who was also in Alec’s car — 52-year-old Paul Maurice Pierre Jr. — was also killed.

John Rufh is the cousin of Ross Chafe. He’s disappointed with Alec’s sentence, saying it isn’t severe enough and won’t deter people from driving drunk.

“We feel that we have a life sentence that we have to go through and deal with. We have family members who have lots and lots of issues about this.”

Rufh was asked if the sentence brings any closure to the family.

“I guess it’s the end of the road for this, but the healing over time I guess will come… It’s very difficult, you feel like you’ve been ripped off.”

Alec pleaded guilty to three counts of impaired driving causing death in connection to the crash. Tests taken following the crash showed his blood alcohol level was somewhere between 2.20 and 2.75, which is three times the legal limit.

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