Watch above: An Edmonton man who killed a 16-year-old by crashing his Mercedes into the teen’s car was cleared of street racing charges. But as Kendra Slugoski reports, he was convicted of dangerous driving.
EDMONTON — A judge determined there is not enough evidence to prove street racing caused the death of a 16-year-old in 2010.
In April 2010, 16-year-old Jeremie LeBlanc was killed while driving to an Edmonton hospital to visit his sister. Jeremie’s vehicle was hit twice by two other vehicles. Witnesses claimed the two vehicles were street racing at the time of the crash.
On Thursday, a judge found Jayant Soni, 35, not guilty of street racing causing death, but guilty of dangerous driving causing death.
Jeremie’s family waited more than four years for the verdict. His mom remembers her son as a responsible young man who was attending high school and working to save money to buy a vehicle.
“Even that night he was supposed to be a designated driver for his friends but I convinced him that it was important to be there for the birth of his niece, because his sister was a single parent,” said Pauline LeBlanc.
LeBlanc still remembers her last conversation with Jeremie shortly before he was killed.
“I said, ‘you know what, why don’t you stay at the party?” I said, ‘babies take a long time to come…if things speed up,’ I said ‘I’ll give you a call.’ And he said, ‘no, Mom. I gave you my word.'”
After his death, Jeremie’s family went to the hospital to identify his body. Several hours later, the family returned to the hospital for the birth of Jeremie’s niece.
“Nobody should have to hold their granddaughter and identify their son on the same day,”
Soni will be sentenced in the new year.
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