A Swift Current man will be paying nearly $2,000 in fines after his sentencing earlier this week on a charge garnered from an aggravated drunk driving incident this past summer, which included a hit and run.
23-year-old Jasper Gian appeared in Swift Current Provincial Court, where he pleaded guilty to impaired operation of a motor vehicle while over the legal alcohol limit
Gian received a 12-month driving prohibition, with violation subject to prosecution, and will be responsible for paying SGI for the cost of damages resulting from the collision. He also received a $1,500 fine and a $450 victim fine surcharge that must be paid within the next six months.
Judge Jacobson, the presiding judge, shared that the accused didn't have a previous criminal record and that taking responsibility was to his credit.
"This is an expensive lesson for you," he said during the sentencing. "You and I can both be grateful that you hit a truck and not a person."
On July 30, Swift Current Municipal RCMP received a report of a 2013 Honda Civic that had collided with a 2008 Ford F350.
The Civic, driven by Gian, fled the scene, which Crown prosecutor Curtis Wiebe highlighted as an aggravating factor.
After locating the local resident, police noted signs of intoxication and the smell of alcohol. Breath samples taken from Gian indicated a blood alcohol content of 150 milligrams per litre to 140 milligrams per litre, or 0.15 BAC to 0.14 BAC.
Gian's defence counsel stated that, "this was an error in judgment and Gian is remorseful for the incident."