Keller sentenced for drunk driving

Two women are lucky to be alive following a collision with a drunk driver more than four years ago.

The women were driving in a Nissan Sentra along Highway 845 north of Raymond shortly after midnight Oct. 7, 2012 when they were struck by a white Ford Explorer driven by Chet Vernon Keller.

Keller pleaded guilty Friday in Lethbridge provincial court to one count of impaired driving causing bodily harm and three counts of failing to appear in court, and was sentenced to a total of 10 months in jail.

Crown prosecutor Vaughan Hartigan explained Keller was drunk when he struck the smaller vehicle. One of the women sustained soft tissue injuries, as well as a cut to one of her eyes when a piece of glass became lodged in the cornea. The glass was removed by medical personnel, and although a scar remains, it no longer affects her vision, Hartigan added.

Hartigan reminded court that even though the starting point for impaired driving causing bodily harm is two months in jail, Keller deserves a longer sentence because he was convicted of impaired driving in 2009 and 2012. He suggested it was only by the “grace of God” the collision didn’t have more serious consequences.

In addition to his sentence — Keller was given full credit for time already spent in custody after he was picked up on warrant last October — he is prohibited from driving for three years. He must also pay restitution to the injured woman for damages to her vehicle, on which she was still making payments, and for chiropractic treatments.

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