Drunk driver sentenced

A drunk driver who ran over and killed a tourist on the Niagara parkway last summer has been sentenced to three years in prison. Edward Coop killed 76-year old Jean-Claude Roy. Roy’s wife and grandson were injured when what began as a relaxing vacation for this family from Quebec ended in an unspeakable tragedy.

Edward Coop had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system the night he struck and killed 76-year old Jean-Claude Roy. Coop was heading home to Chippawa down the Niagara parkway on August 20th last year. His pickup blew past a parks officer who tried to stop him at the Murray Hill intersection. Just meters ahead he hit Roy, Roy’s wife and
grandson as they stepped off the centre median. Roy was killed — his wife and grandson severely injured.

Edward Coop: “I really apologize. I can’t get in contact with them. If I could, I’d apologize.”

Judge Peter Wilkie took Coop’s remorse and guilty plea into consideration when he sentenced him Wednesday to three years in prison. But there were aggravating factors to this tragedy as well.

Detective Alan Carter is with Niagara Regional Police: “As pointed out by his honour, the aggravating factors were the way he was driving prior to the collision and the alcohol involvement.”

Coop also had a lengthy criminal record. Two previous convictions for impaired driving out west and three convictions for narcotics possession. Prior to killing Jean-Claude Roy, Edward Coop drank every day. His lawyer Kim Vanderlee says he hasn’t had a drink since: “It’s a tragic event all the way around. And my client has really been suffering.”

The victim’s family is suffering too. They haven’t been at these court proceedings because they live in Quebec. But in their victim impact statements, they talk about how they’re still dealing with the physical pain and the grief of losing their loved one.