A Prince George Provincial Court judge ordered a 38-year-old man to pay a $1,500 fine for a momentary lapse in attention that resulted in the death of a passenger.
Ralph Matthew Jr. Alec was charged under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without due care and attention after an Aug. 27, 2024, crash involving a GMC pickup truck at Grace Road and Highway 16.
“Alec saw the approaching GMC and, in a moment of poor driving calculus, believed he had time to cross the intersection safely,” Judge David Simpkin said on May 15. “Both counsel agree that the analysis here is that Mr. Alec is guilty of a momentary lapse in attention, and I accept that submission.”
Alec was the caregiver for Eric Lindstrom, a 49-year-old man who required round-the-clock care after being injured in a fall down stairs at just nine months old.
Alec drove a co-worker and Lindstrom in a Dodge Caravan minivan to the nearby Airport Husky gas station. He then drove across the eastbound lanes of Highway 16 before colliding with the truck, which struck the passenger side of Alec’s vehicle.
At the time, the minivan was travelling at 32 kilometres per hour and the GMC between 82 and 112 km/h.
The GMC travelled 58 metres down the road after the impact. The minivan struck a lamppost and sustained what court described as catastrophic damage, with the passenger seat bearing the brunt of the collision.
“A police officer happened to be at the same intersection on unrelated duties, and he immediately ran to the collision scene to render assistance,” Simpkin said.
Lindstrom was extricated and taken to hospital by ambulance. His injuries were not survivable. After 15 days in hospital, on Sept. 11, 2024, his mother decided to remove him from life support.
Court heard Alec, who is Indigenous, had no criminal record.
“It is very clear that Mr. Alec is racked by remorse and regret for the tragedy that befell Mr. Lindstrom that day,” Simpkin said. “Mr. Lindstrom was not only Mr. Alec’s patient, but he was his friend and like a big brother to him.”
Simpkin agreed with a joint sentencing proposal from Crown and defence lawyers. He found Alec’s moral culpability was at the low end of the spectrum and emphasized that he was not being sentenced for causing Lindstrom’s death.
“He’s being sentenced for a moment’s lapse in attention while driving a motor vehicle,” Simpkin said.
The judge gave Alec 18 months to pay the fine.
