WARNING: This story contains graphic content that some may find disturbing.
A sentencing hearing took place Monday for a man who drove his truck into a north Edmonton gas station, severely injuring two employees.
Steven Cloutier told police he was “past the breaking point” on Nov. 18, 2015, the day he drove his Ford F-150 through the Petro Canada gas station, severely injuring a man and a woman. Two other female employees were also injured.
In an agreed statement of facts, Cloutier admitted to getting frustrated after he arrived at the gas station at 96 Street and 118 Avenue.
Cloutier, 39, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of aggravated assault, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, mischief over $5,000 and assault. He originally faced a long list of charges, including four counts of attempted murder.
Court heard victim impact statements Monday. Gas station employee Joseph Loutitt, who was pinned between the truck and steel rubble in the crash, said in a statement his whole life has been affected.
“I cry for no reason,” the Crown read on Loutitt’s behalf. “I’m scared each day; looking under beds, checking empty rooms to make sure they are still empty. I never did that before.”
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READ MORE: Man facing attempted murder charges after driving truck into Edmonton gas station
He left his driver’s licence with the store clerk and went out to the pre-pay pump, but it didn’t work. The clerk thought Cloutier left a credit card and told another staff member to advise Cloutier over the intercom. By this time, Cloutier had moved his truck to a different pump, but it also required pre-payment. After alerting Cloutier over the intercom, he became upset and went back in the store.
READ MORE: Staff ‘deserved what they got’: Man told police after ramming truck through Petro Canada station
The agreed statement of facts said Cloutier slammed his fist on the counter and yelled at the store clerk. He left the store without his driver’s licence. Fearing for their safety, staff locked the front door, then attempted to return his driver’s licence by sliding it through the after-hours payment slot. By that time, Cloutier was at his vehicle and drove off.
About a minute later, Cloutier cut across three lanes of traffic and returned to the store. It was determined Cloutier was travelling at least 47 km/h when he drove his truck through the Petro Canada.
Watch below: Global News now has the shocking surveillance video of a truck ramming through the front of a gas station. The man behind the wheel told police the employees he injured deserved it. Kendra Slugoski was in court on Monday as he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and other charges. WARNING: Video contains disturbing images.
Gas station employee Yeon Kim was pinned underneath the vehicle. Fellow employee Loutitt was pinned between the truck and the steel rubble. The workers weren’t freed until someone came in the store and slowly reversed the truck.
Loutitt suffered two broken legs, a broken knee cap and broken shoulder blade, and said in court he was in a wheelchair for about five months.
Kim suffered broken legs, a shattered pelvis, compound ankle fracture, kidney damage, a blood infection and a broken jaw. Her shoulder was also injured and she is recovering from eye damage.
After the crash, Cloutier left the vehicle and punched one of the other female workers in the face stating: “How do you like that?”
He then watched from across the street as emergency crews arrived at the gas station. Once in police custody, he told the investigator he should be in a mental hospital, and explained that his downward spiral began after his sister died by suicide.
During his police interview, Cloutier said he was trying to leave Edmonton and hoped he didn’t hurt any customers. He said he had no conscience anymore.
“In my opinion, the staff members in the store deserved what they got.”
“I have no hard feelings about it,” he told police. “The guy that locked the door behind me, he deserved what he got too.”
At Monday’s sentencing hearing at the Edmonton Law Courts, however, Cloutier read a letter saying he “would like to apologize to the people in the community” and that he was “deeply sorry.”
“Nobody deserves to be run over,hurt, yelled or swore at,” he said.
The Crown has asked for Cloutier to receive a five- to seven-year prison sentence along with a 10-year driving prohibition while Cloutier’s lawyers asked the judge for a sentence of three-and-a-half years plus three years of probation.
Cloutier is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 16 when the judge is expected to hand down a sentence.
—With files from Kendra Slugoski and Quinn Ohler.
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