Teen sentenced to youth jail for Saskatoon crash on Idylwyld Drive

A 14-year-old boy received a 10-month sentence, with six-and-a-half months in secure custody, on Thursday for his role in a fiery crash on Saskatoon’s Idylwyld Drive in May that left an 82-year-old man with serious injuries. The sentence includes about three months in the community and 12 months of probation.

The sentence is on top of the roughly five months the teen has spent in custody already since his arrest in May.

Conditions of the teen’s probation include reporting to a youth worker, remaining at an approved residence between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., and completing programs for addiction and anger management.

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In June, the teen – who cannot be named due to provisions of Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act – pleaded guilty in Saskatoon Provincial Court to charges including possession of stolen property over $5,000, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and failing to stop after an accident.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Idylwyld and 58th Street West shortly after 8 a.m. on May 5, according to police. Officers responded after receiving a report from Corman Park Police saying a stolen Dodge Durango SUV was being driven erratically and was heading into the city on Highway 11.

Court heard the teen fled after a Corman Park Police officer attempted to stop him, after which the teen lost control of the SUV, crossed a median and crashed into a vehicle driven by Doug Bremner.

The court heard that Bremner’s vehicle was set on fire. He suffered second- and third-degree burns to 20 per cent of his body, broken bones and other internal injuries as a result of the crash, and was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital for treatment.

After the collision, the teen fled on foot from the SUV. Police used a canine unit to track him before he attempted to leave the area on a city bus. Police stopped the bus and arrested him.

Court heard the teen admitted to police that he had stolen the vehicle, was the driver, and had used meth the day before.

At the teen’s sentencing hearing on Aug 6, Bremner and his family described the lasting impact of the crash, including how his injuries have left him struggling with everyday tasks.

Victim impact statements also revealed that Bremner was the primary caregiver to his wife, who is battling cancer, and she has stopped receiving treatment in order to support his recovery.

The Crown sought a sentence of 10 months in custody and five in the community, followed by a year of probation. The defence argued for two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Kiefer Ballantyne, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of occupying a motor vehicle knowing it had been taken without the owner’s consent in relation to the crash. He received credit for time already served in custody.

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, an independent agency mandated to investigate incidents involving serious injury or death connected to police actions or occurring while someone is in police custody, is investigating the circumstances around the crash.