Drunk driving car crash sends P.E.I. man to jail

Causing a three-vehicle car crash in Charlottetown on a Tuesday morning while driving drunk more than double the legal limit has led to jail time for a P.E.I. man.

Clinton Hollis Crane, 69, appeared in provincial court in Charlottetown on June 1 to plead guilty and be sentenced for the impaired driving charge.

On Jan. 31 at 10:20 a.m., Charlottetown police were notified of a three-vehicle car collision at the Beach Grove Road and North River Road intersection, said Crown attorney Emily Campbell. Police were also informed that a white Chevrolet Silverado was involved in the crash and had fled the scene. As officers were driving to the crash scene, they passed the heavily damaged Silverado travelling southbound in the opposite direction on North River Road. Police turned around and pulled over the vehicle.

Officers noticed that the driver – Crane – was showing signs of impairment, such as red glossy eyes, delayed speech and confusion. After getting out of the vehicle, Crane staggered as he tried to walk.

Crane was arrested and taken to the Charlottetown Police Station where he provided two breathalyzer samples of 210 milligrams (mg) of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 mg.

At the collision scene, police learned that Crane rear-ended a vehicle, which then crashed into the back of another vehicle in front of her stopped at the traffic light.

The man in the front vehicle was nearly struck by Crane as he fled the accident scene, said Campbell.

Crane's criminal record includes two convictions for failing to stop at the scene of a collision, two impaired driving convictions and a conviction for refusing a breathalyzer demand. The most recent impaired driving conviction was in 2021. He was sentenced to 23 days in jail for that offence.

The female driver, a retiree, filed a victim impact statement with the court. In the statement, she said she feels hypervigilant when driving and is always looking in her rear-view mirror. She also avoids driving on highways. She was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for assessment. The following morning, the woman experienced soreness in her head, eyes and mouth. In addition, she realized that a filling in her tooth had been knocked out.

She also had to replace her vehicle due to the damage in the collision. Her insurance company was seeking $15,095.19 from the court to cover the outstanding amount it had to pay out.

Crane's legal aid lawyer Justin Milne requested a jail sentence of 40 to 75 days for his client.

Milne asked the court to impose a weekend sentence so Crane could continue to work as a mason for his nephew's business in Cardigan. As well, Milne said his client is working on his alcohol issues, and on the day of the offence, Crane wasn't trying to get away with anything by fleeing the scene but rather he felt intimidated after interacting with the other male driver.

Chief Judge Jeff Lantz sentenced Crane to 75 days in jail to be served on weekends, two years of probation and a $100 victim surcharge. Lantz awarded $15,095.19 in restitution to the woman's insurance company. The woman could also receive restitution for her expenses when she provides receipts. Crane was also banned from driving for two years plus the time in jail.