Drunk drivers ‘unsettling’

Coady Alexander Stretch gets six months for drunk driving

A 21-year-old man who left the scene of an accident he caused while driving drunk was sentenced last week to six months in jail.

Coady Alexander Stretch’s conviction also led provincial court Chief Judge Nancy Orr to say it was “very unsettling” to see a high number of drunk driving cases in recent years that involve young people.

Stretch appeared before Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to drunk driving causing bodily harm.

He was involved in an accident after drinking at a friend’s home, going to sleep and leaving after he woke to find everyone gone.

Stretch was driving a truck when he rear-ended another vehicle causing damage that Orr said left the back end basically unrecognizable.

He then left the scene, although Orr said there was no indication why he did so.

Someone who was in the area helped the victim, found Stretch and made sure he didn’t leave until the police arrived.

The victim had to seek medical treatment and suffered headaches, a concussion and whiplash because of the crash.

Stretch provided breathalyzer samples that were about twice the legal limit.

Before sentencing Stretch, Orr said she continues to regularly make the same comments to people convicted of failing the breathalyzer that the number of cases in P.E.I. continues at a very high rate.

Orr said on some days the number of drunk driving cases can make up one third or more of her docket, which sometimes sees 40 to 50 people.

For a while, it seemed young people were getting the message and for the most part it was rare to see them with drunk driving charges, Orr said.

“They were the sober drivers,” she said.

Orr said Stretch’s sentence needed to be one that brings home a message to people who think they can drive after they drink.

She also said Stretch’s behaviour was compounded by him leaving the scene of the accident.

For all Stretch knew, the victim could have bled to death before someone came along to help, Orr said.

After his release from jail, Stretch will be banned from driving for two years.

He must also pay a $200 victim surcharge.