A Sherwood Park man who pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death in an August 2022 collision that left an Edmonton couple dead was sentenced Monday to five years behind bars.
Taylor Yaremchuk pleaded guilty in September 2023 to two counts of impaired driving causing death for his role in an Aug. 14, 2022 collision that killed Jim Macdonald, 68, and Annie Macdonald, 63.
Court previously heard that Yaremchuk admitted to drinking alcohol at the Belvedere Golf and Country Club on the morning of Aug. 14, 2022, and then leaving in his vehicle. Around noon, Yaremchuk crossed the centre line of Highway 628 and collided head-on with the motorcycle the Macdonalds were riding. The motorcycle caught fire and Jim and Annie died at the scene.
Yaremchuk had more than double the legal blood alcohol limit in his system, court heard.
Yaremchuk learned his fate in an Edmonton courtroom on Monday morning.
The Sherwood Park man has already served 38 days, being credited for 57 days of his sentence. He was also handed a seven-year driving prohibition.
“This is just another day,” the couple’s daughter Breigh Cohen said outside the courthouse on Monday.
“It’s a hard day. Nothing is going to bring them back. We feel that the justice heard us and that it’s sending a message that there shouldn’t be drinking and driving anymore. It didn’t need to happen.”
The Macdonalds were born and raised in Edmonton. Jim worked at MacEwan University, while Annie worked for the provincial government.
Both Jim and Annie were very active, according to their family, and passionate about skiing and riding their bicycles.
The couple had three children and seven grandchildren.
“I think our parents were champions for the underdog in our city,” Cohen said.
“It’s a huge loss for our city and certainly a bigger loss for our family. Nothing — nothing — is going to bring them back, but I hope people remember their big hearts and their kindness.”
The Crown had sought a five-year sentence for Yaremchuk. The defence was seeking a sentence of three to five years.
In her sentencing decision, Justice Shaina Leonard cited mitigating factors such as an absence of a criminal record and Yaremchuk’s remorse. During the sentencing hearing last month, the defence said Yaremchuk has not touched alcohol since the incident.
Leonard cited aggravating factors such as Yaremchuk’s high blood alcohol level at the time of the crash, as well as previous convictions for speeding and distracted driving.
“There can be no doubt the offender was aware of the risks of drinking and driving,” the judge said Monday.