Crown seeks 13 years for Edmonton man who crashed into a Starbucks, killing 3 passengers
CBC
Oscar Benjumea admits that in July 2020 his driving caused the death of three passengers in his vehicle. He also admits he fled the scene without checking on his friends.
At a sentencing hearing on Monday in Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench, the Crown asked the judge to impose a 13-year prison sentence.
"On July 3, 2020, the world was deprived of three young, kind and compassionate souls," prosecutor Kate Andress said. "The offences had a significant victim impact."
Benjumea is charged with three counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of leaving the scene of a collision.
According to an agreed statement of facts filed with the court in May, Benjumea, now 27, was out bar-hopping hours before the crash with his friend Faisel Yousef. The men ended up at Spotlight Cabaret in Old Strathcona and began chatting with Emma MacArthur and Georgia Donovan.
At closing time, the women paid for their drinks and food, while the men split their bill for 20 single-ounce shots of tequila, two double-ounce mixed drinks and some fish tacos.
Benjumea later admitted he consumed four shots and a double-ounce drink.
He climbed behind the wheel of his 2018 Audi RS5. Yousef sat in the front seat while the two women sat in the back.
Less than 10 minutes later, the three passengers were dead or dying.
Benjumea raced along Calgary Trail at speeds well above the 60 km/h posted limit. When he hit a curve around 55th Avenue, he lost control of his vehicle, slammed into a curb and became airborne, crashing into a Starbucks building.
He had hit a maximum speed of 186 km/h when he lost control.
Benjumea left the scene and was arrested at his house the next day. According to the agreed statement of facts, Benjumea asked police, "There was four people in the vehicle and I'm the only alive one?"
The constable told him everyone else had died.
Andress told Justice Peter Michalyshyn that she believes there are a number of factors that justify a lengthy prison term.
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