Dear Editor:
RE: Impaired driver sentenced to seven years for deadly Highway 6 crash, July 14.
On Dec. 29, 2023, Micheal Shular, an impaired driver outside Fergus, swerved and collided with the vehicle of Dave Genereaux who was pronounced dead at the scene. Shular was found to be impaired by fentanyl and methamphetamine at the time of the crash. Impaired driving brings devastating consequences – too often, it ends in tragedy.
Following the collision, Shular took responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty in court to impaired driving causing death. He received a seven-year prison sentence, and a 12-year driving suspension.
However, some felt this punishment was insufficient, given that he had been given an impaired driving conviction in 2012. While he expressed sorrow and regret for what he had done, punishment for his actions is still necessary. No matter how sorry one feels, remorse cannot undo what has been done. Accountability and justice remain essential.
Many believe that Schular’s expression of remorse may have been motivated by a desire for leniency on his sentence. Genereaux’s widow, Sabrina stated that although she was glad that Shular had owned up to his actions, she was worried he was not truly remorseful. Her concern is understandable – true repentance is shown through change not words.
Some others believed that Shular’s impaired driving stemmed from medical and addiction issues. John Smart, Shular’s defense lawyer, stated that, “Mr. Shular has lived his adult life plagued by addiction and medical issues.” While addiction is a serious and tragic issue, it does not excuse the devastating consequences of impaired driving.
We are all imperfect, but we must all be held accountable for our mistakes. Compassion for those struggling with addiction does not mean excusing their actions – especially when those actions destroy lives. Impaired driving does more than hurt people, it shatters families and whole communities.
Kara Jonker,
Elora