‘My family is in shambles,’ court told

A man who had a cocktail of drugs and alcohol in his system when he caused a fatal crash more than a year ago in East Gwillimbury pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal negligence causing death.

Tyler Nielsen, 21, entered his plea in front of a Newmarket courtroom packed with Stuart Ellis’s supporters, many of whom read touching victim impact statements. Ellis, 28, was a father of one and had another child on the way when he died.

Nielsen shed tears intermittently as he quietly listened to the statements. Ellis’s wife, Justine Ellis, said her son Grayson, 2, now has separation anxiety around her considering his father left that day, never to return.

“My family is in shambles,” she said. “I would not wish the pain and heartache myself and my family have had to endure on my worst enemy, not even on Mr. Nielsen and his family.” The court heard that on Nov. 12, 2017, Nielsen — who’d been charged with impaired driving and convicted of careless driving just months prior — ingested marijuana, alcohol, Lorazepam and Temazepam. As part of his probation, he was not allowed to drive or possess non-medically prescribed drugs. Despite this, in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2017, Nielsen drove to East Gwillimbury and was travelling 227 km/h in the wrong lane, into oncoming traffic. He collided with Ellis’s car, resulting in Ellis’s death on the scene. Ellis’s two boys, one of whom was born following his death, were also in court.

Justine Ellis urged Justice Joseph Kenkel to change the image she said Canada’s justice system currently has of being weak on impaired drivers.

“Please Your Honour, help me to ensure that Stuart’s life was not taken in complete vain,” she added, looking at Kenkel.

Nielsen is to be sentenced Feb. 12.