Woman gets 1-year driving ban in pair of highway deaths

KAMLOOPS — The mother of one of two people killed by a driver who crossed into the oncoming lane on the Trans-Canada Highway near Spences Bridge says she is “utterly and completely shattered.”

Tanya McGovern, 38, was sentenced to a one-year driving ban after pleading guilty Wednesday to a charge of driving without due care and attention.

Crown lawyer Chris Balison said no one can explain why McGovern’s small SUV crossed into the northbound lane, colliding head-on with an oncoming car on Aug. 12, 2012.

Lindsay Brodie and Eric Lowerison, both in their 30s, died at the scene.

McGovern, who was removed from her vehicle with the Jaws of Life and flown to hospital, spent more than a month in hospital.

Brodie’s mother, Kathie, made a victim-impact statement in provincial court in Kamloops, saying the family’s lives are forever changed by the loss of a young couple who were planning to have children.

“Every get-together, birthday and celebration is marred because they’re not there to share it with you,” she said.

“On Aug. 12, 2012, my life changed forever, permanently and irrevocably.”

McGovern said at the accident scene and in a later statement to police that she had no recollection of the crash or events preceding it.

Police accident reconstructionists determined her vehicle crossed into the other lane on a straight section of highway marked with a double-solid yellow line.

Data from both vehicles determined they were travelling considerably below the posted speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour, McGovern’s at 83 km/h and the victims’ at 59 km/h.

Defence lawyer Jeremy Jensen said McGovern was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was not tired behind the wheel.

There were no witnesses to the crash, which occurred between 8 and 9 a.m.

The sentence in similar cases typically calls for a fine of $1,000.

As a result of her injuries, McGovern is on disability leave from her job as a water-plant operator.