A Sherwood Park woman was sentenced to a five-year prison term Monday in an impaired driving case that claimed two lives.
Stephanie Rita Williams was found guilty in March of two counts of impaired driving causing death, three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm and a single count of refusing to provide a blood sample.
The charges all stem from a September 2009 accident on Highway 28 that claimed the lives of Dustin Desjarlais, 27 and Joneson Chiang, 34.
Desjarlais was a passenger in Williams’ vehicle, which swerved into the northbound lane, colliding with the vehicle Chiang was in. Three other people in Chiang’s vehicle were seriously injured in the crash, including two children.
Desjarlais and Williams were at a baseball tournament in Morinville where Williams consumed several drinks before heading out on the road.
Shannon Williams, who is not related to Williams and also played in the tournament, testified at trial that she had asked Williams if she was driving and told her she was drunk.
In settling on the five-year term, Judge Peter Ayotte said he found that detail aggravating.
“Her friend at the time made it clear she was drunk and inferred at least that she should not drive.”
Outside court, Desjarlais’ mother Betty said she felt the sentence was inadequate to the scope of the tragedy.
“I don’t think the four-plus years is enough. I really don’t. It is not enough for two lives.”
Williams will also be subject to a seven-year driving prohibition that will begin when she leaves prison.
