Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Jail time too short, victims’ son says

- CHARLES HAMILTON cthamilton@postmedia.com

James Reynolds will serve an 18-month jail sentence for killing two people when he tried to pass a semi-truck on a busy highway in heavy fog.

Calvin Stachniak says the driver who killed his parents should have received a stiffer sentence.

“I don’t believe this sentence is (justice) for my parents, not at all,” Stachniak said outside the Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench courtroom on Friday.

Reynolds, 36, was found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving causing death in the March 8, 2013, collision that killed Lawrence Stachniak, 67, and Darlene Stachniak, 55, on Highway 41 near Aberdeen.

Justice Murray Acton imposed a sentence of 18 months minus 36 days for time served on Friday. The judge also imposed 18 months probation on Reynolds and a threeyear driving prohibitio­n.

Stachniak says his family has lived with the tragedy for three years.

His children, he said, ask about their grandparen­ts almost daily and the sentence imposed by the judge does little to bring them closure.

“I am not looking for revenge. We just want a proper sentence. There are too many people who take these risks on the road and too many people are paying with their lives and this has to stop,” Stachniak said.

The court heard during his trial that Reynolds was driving north on Highway 41 on his way to work when he came upon a convoy of four semi trucks travelling at a reduced speed because of poor visibility and fog.

Reynolds passed one semi in the convoy but was then sandwiched between a pair of semis. When he pulled out to pass again, Reynolds saw lights coming at him through the fog. Unable to turn right because of the semi beside him, Reynolds swerved left into the ditch, mirroring the move of the oncoming car and causing the head-on collision.

The Stachniaks were killed instantly.

Reading an oral decision, Justice Acton said that while Reynolds was guilty of dangerous driving causing death, he had no previous criminal record.

“He is remorseful for the tragic loss he has caused the family and suffers from survivor’s guilt,” Acton told the court.

Acton recalled the victim impact statements read out in court during sentencing and called them “heart-wrenching.”

Calvin Stachniak said he will live with the consequenc­es of Reynold’s decision that morning for the rest of his life.

“It is not something that goes away,” he said.

 ??  ?? Darlene and Lawrence Stachniak were killed when James Reynolds passed in foggy conditions on Highway 41 on March 8, 2013, and collided with them head-on.
Darlene and Lawrence Stachniak were killed when James Reynolds passed in foggy conditions on Highway 41 on March 8, 2013, and collided with them head-on.

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