WATCH: Two involved in Westside Road shootout sentenced

KELOWNA – The judge says it is a miracle no one was killed. Two of three suspects involved in a police pursuit shootings and carjacking along Westside Road in the summer of 2012 have been sentenced.

The harrowing hour and a half long car chase started in West Kelowna and lead to Vernon.

Numerous gun shots were fired at police and a highways department worker.

Eventually all three suspects were arrested. During the chase, the then 18-year-old Ashley Collins was shot by police. As a result, she had to have a kidney removed.

As well, she was pregnant at the time and lost her baby. Her lawyer says the incident was a blessing in disguise for her.

“That day was probably the worst day in her life, but then again probably the best day in her life because it shocked her to her senses and at the fork in the road she turned to the right direction. The last two and a half years, she’s been living a very productive lifestyle fully employed, very supportive family,” explains her lawyer Grant Gray.

Friday, the judge acknowledged the impact of the shootout on Collins by giving her an 18 month suspended sentence and 18 months of probation for being in a vehicle where there were illegal firearms.

Shawn Adam Wysynski pleaded guilty to armed robbery charges and today he was sentenced to 9 years in a federal institution, minus 39 months credit for time served in a remand centre.

Wysynski’s lawyer says it’s miraculous Collins was the only person injured in the chase.

“Mr.Wysynski fully understands it’s a miracle that other people weren’t hurt, significantly hurt. It’s remarkable,” says lawyer Jeremy Jensen.

Contrary to what the judge believes, Jensen is confident Wysinski, who has a lengthy record, will be able to turn his life around.

“The system is there, the process is there for somebody to turn their life around. It’s not as if Mr.Wysynski has been in the federal institution and gone through these courses and come out and re-offended,” says Jensen.

The third suspect, Michael Ellis is facing 22 charges, including five counts of attempted murder. His trial will resume in the new year.