The woman who pled guilty to impaired driving, leading to a crash that claimed the lives of two people, was sentenced to 36 months of prison on May 9.
On June 30, 2014, Fallon Jessica Ouellette was travelling down Highway 28, just west of the Highway 881 intersection, when she partially crossed the yellow line. When she tried to move back to her side of the road, she clipped a truck and camper, came back into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a van driven by David Fragoso, with Charlotte Patterson and David’s daughter Mackenzie, as passengers.
The van then slid into the ditch and was quickly engulfed in flames. Witnesses of the crash jumped out to help, but they were only able to pull Mackenzie from the burning vehicle. David and Charlotte perished in the fire. Mackenzie had several injuries that still require rehab, as well as severe posttraumatic stress disorder.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Jeff Rudiak presented all grounds for the sentencing to Justice John Little.
Ouellete’s blood alcohol level was reported to have measured to be 0.126, one and a half times the legal limit. After the collision, she was taken to St. Paul hospital and released without major injury.
Last week, Ouellette appeared in court choosing to have no representation, after having pled guilty to one count of drunk driving causing death, and one count of drunk driving.
Mackenzie’s mother, Barbara Scully was one of three relatives that provided a victim impact statement. Scully made it clear the “unthinkable mental and physical pain” that her daughter has been put through because of this accident needed to be taken into serious consideration.
Before receiving her sentence, Ouellette said, “I know that, no matter what I am sentenced with, it won’t make the families of those people feel any better about what I have done. I am so sorry.”
Family members of the crash victims filled one side of the courtroom.
The Court sentenced Ouellette to 36 months of incarceration, with a five year driving prohibition, and required her to provide a DNA sample.
The families of Charlotte, David and Mackenzie were visibly dissatisfied by the sentence.
Family members that run a Facebook page in support the victims offered a brief statement via social media.
The message, posted on the page called “Justice for Kenzie, Dave and Charlotte,” stated: “Please write your politicians. We need to change the way we deal with impaired driving and have take into account the impact these senseless acts have on victims.”
