A man who caused a car crash that killed three siblings last year has been sentenced to eight years in prison, minus the time he has already served in custody.
As per the sentence, 526 days will be deducted from Ethan Lehouillier’s sentence, leaving 6.5 years in prison. He is also banned from driving for 20 years and thereafter, the Ministry of Transportation will decide whether “Mr. Lehouillier will ever be allowed to drive again.” He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample to the authorities.
The fatal collision took place on May 18, 2025, just after midnight. Akash Paladugu and his partner Jade Galve were in a van with her four children, heading home after watching Victoria Day fireworks, with Paladugu behind the wheel.
According to an agreed statement of facts, then 19-year-old Lehouillier was driving a van and exiting Highway 401 at Renforth Drive at nearly 170 kilometres per hour. He ran a red light, hit a median, and “launched into the air,” striking the family’s stationary van. Lehouillier’s blood alcohol level that night was more than two times the legal limit of 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, measuring 185 milligrams in 100 millilitres.
Two of the children – 15-year-old Ramone Lavina and his 13-year-old brother Jace – died at the scene. Their six-year-old sister Mya died in hospital a short time later. Galve, her then 10-year-old son Avery and Paladugu were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Following the sentencing hearing, Galve spoke to media gathered outside the Toronto courthouse saying no length of sentence would truly be satisfactory to her, but eight years was certainly not enough.
“Losing three of my children has shattered our lives forever. The offender has been sentenced to eight years and it is eight years too short. The offender should serve at least three [consecutive sentences], one for each of my children that have been lost. He doesn’t deserve a second chance,” she said.
She called for stronger penalties for drinking and driving and her partner Paladugu also called for changes to the law.
“Why aren’t we pushing more towards zero blood alcohol level? It shouldn’t be a chance where I can have one beer or two beers. Just have zero. It doesn’t solve the problem but could prevent other tragedies like this [from] ever happening again,” he said.
In December, Lehouillier pled guilty to three counts of impaired driving causing death and three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. He has been in custody since his arrest last May. The crown was seeking a sentence of eight to 10 years while the defence was asking for between six to eight years.
In sentencing arguments, the case parallels of Marco Muzzo – who was sentenced to 10 years in prison – were brought up repeatedly. The lawyer for the family, Michael Coristine, said in such proceedings the judge is generally “capped by the maximum range of the Crown’s ask.”
“Her honour certainly did a lot to explain and distinguish from the Muzzo case which was a 10-year sentence in similar albeit more aggravating factors… Certainly for her honour to find the mid range of what each side was asking for is certainly appropriate,” he said, adding that civil proceedings will follow now that the criminal case has ended.
Justice Kimberly Crosbie said both sides submitted a sentencing range that is supported by case law. She said she weighed the law, the deaths of the children and Lehouillier’s circumstances to arrive at her decision. Those circumstances included “feeling worthless and hopeless,” leading him to use alcohol to cope.
“Today this courtroom is filled with mourning relatives and friends whose lives will never be the same. The ripple effects of this crime will never end for this family. Mr. Lehouillier’s future will be disfigured by a dreadful feeling of guilt that will never dissipate,” said Justice Kimberley Crosbie in the sentence.
“Impaired driving is a scourge of our times. That it is so preventable makes the horrors that can result sting that much more. For those present today whose lives, families and friendships have been torn apart – and I include in this the Lehouillier family – we can do little more than wish them some measure of peace as the years go by.”
Galve reiterated to reporters that the sentence comes as little consolation, but she has to stay strong for her surviving 11-year-old son Avery.
“Right now we’re just navigating the loss, living with the grief, just managing our day-to-day, trying to raise my 11-year-old son that now has no siblings. We’re just doing our best to be the best parents we can be,” she said.
“[Lehouillier] did give an apology but I don’t accept it, truthfully.”