Driver that killed local chef, filmmaker gets 30 days in jail
A man convicted of careless driving in a crash that killed a local chef and aspiring filmmaker two years ago has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Judge Heather Lamoureux ordered Nicholas Miklic to serve an intermittent sentence on weekends. She also told him to attend three driving courses and to “tell them his story ” so that someone in the class might learn from it.
In January, Lamoureux found Miklic guilty of careless driving under the Traffic Safety Act in the fatal head-on collision about 50 kilometres east of Airdrie.
Calgary chef Jonathan Sobol, 33, and aspiring filmmaker Alec Bracegirdle, 20, were killed Aug. 30, 2016, on Highway 9 as they were on their way to film a meeting with a local producer.
The families of both victims read victim-impact statements at the sentencing hearing.
Philip Bracegirdle, Alec’s father, told court he could not express the depth of loss to his family following the young man’s death.
He described Alec, who was just starting his career as a filmmaker, as “all that was beautiful and good.”
“Nothing can ever replace him,” he said.
Bob Sobol described his son as an amazing executive chef, a devoted uncle, loving brother, wonderful son “and by all accounts, an outstanding and well-liked friend.”
“Most importantly, Jonathan was and always has been my buddy,” he told the court, adding his son enjoyed spending time with his parents and would greet them with “great, big bear hugs.”
“Rarely does an hour go by where he’s not on my mind,” he said.
Lamoureux, who will issue a more detailed written decision in September, called it “exceptionally difficult” to make a decision on the sentence.
“I think that there is not enough deterrence for the general public if the court simply levies a fine,” she said.
“However much the court understands the remorse of Mr. Miklic, there is something too little in assigning a sentence that deals with the payment of money.”
Lamoureux said in January that Miklic, who was driving a moving van, passed when it was unsafe to do so, because the tandem tractor trailer he was passing obscured his view of the oncoming lane.
Crown prosecutor Ron Simenik asked for the maximum jail sentence of six months for Miklic, while defence lawyer Brendan Miller proposed the maximum fine of $2,000 and probation for 12 months.
Bob Sobol said following the hearing that he was satisfied with the sentence.
“In two weeks it’ll be exactly two years that my son and Mr. Bracegirdle were killed in that collision, so it’s a long process,” he said.
“This is not a situation where we’re comfortable or happy. I guess it’s just a situation where we’re happy this part of it is over and now we’re left to go home and continue grieving for the rest of our lives.”
Jonathan Sobol was the executive chef of Calgary restaurant Starbelly.
His father said the first recipient of a memorial award established in his name at SAIT was recently chosen. A memorial fund has also been established in Bracegirdle’s name to provide education and training opportunities to young, aspiring filmmakers.