Man sentenced for ‘senseless’ high-speed crash that killed passenger

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – A Nova Scotia man involved in a high-speed crash that killed a young woman in 2011 has apologized to the victim’s family, saying he takes full responsibility for her death and thinks about the incident every day.

Jake Richard Leon Veinotte appeared Tuesday in Bridgewater provincial court where he was sentenced to 164 days in jail for dangerous driving causing death.

Veinotte, now 20, was going 169 kilometres an hour down a dark, rural road in Conquerall Mills on Oct. 31, 2011, when he lost control on a curve.

The court was told that Veinotte’s car went through a ditch, across a home’s driveway, sheared a power pole in two and rolled several times before it came to rest 55 metres away in a field, broken in pieces.

Veinotte’s 21-year-old passenger, Jessica Richards, was killed in the crash.

The victim’s mother, Michele Richards, told the court that she has been plagued by depression, panic and anxiety since her daughter’s death.

Judge Gregory Lenehan called the crime “senseless,” adding that Veinotte can best show remorse by making something of his life.

Veinotte is scheduled to be released from jail on Sept. 1, in time to begin his second year at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., where he also coaches basketball.

After he is released, Veinotte will serve two years’ probation and perform 100 hours of community service. He is banned from driving for three years.

(Halifax Chronicle Herald)