6 years for impaired driving causing death

A 36-year-old Parksville man has been sentenced to six years in jail for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in 2019.

Ryan Grob, who pleaded guilty in February to impaired driving causing death, was handed the sentence and an eight-year driving ban on Friday in Nanaimo.

Grob hit and killed 32-yearold Spencer Alexander Moore in Parksville on Aug. 24, 2019, while driving his pickup truck home from a pub.

Outside the courthouse Friday, Grob told CHEK News he apologized to the Moore family.

“My deepest sympathy. I wish things went differently. I wish I wouldn’t have lied,” he said, ahead of his sentencing hearing.

Grob had initially attempted to mislead police by claiming his truck had been stolen. Grob also claimed he didn’t remember hitting Moore.

Grob, impaired on alcohol and cocaine, left the Rod and Gun bar in Parksville and, with his Ford F-250 going at least 34 km/h over the posted speed limit, hit Moore, who had also been at the bar and was crawling in the middle of Hirst Avenue.

CHEK reported that provincial court Judge Karen Whonnock said Grob’s high rate of speed, cocaine use and previous driving record, which included five driving prohibitions and seven prior speeding offences, were among the aggravating factors in deciding the length of his sentence.

She said the fact he pleaded guilty was a mitigating factor.

“Judge Whonnock’s decision for six years, we appreciate it. We appreciate her words in the courtroom. We appreciate her time and attention to this,” said Jessica Wallace-Moore, Spencer Moore’s sister-in-law.

Wallace-Moore said she doesn’t believe Grob’s apology is genuine.