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Hugh Brake, 57, was sentenced in a Kitchener courtroom Monday night. Brake was convicted of several charges in November including impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.
In March 2013, Mo Zhu, Cong Shen and their 17-month-old daughter Angelina were headed home to Stratford when their Volkswagen Jetta broke down. They couldn’t pull off the highway due to construction. Kitchener media report the hazard lights were flashing on the car and other drivers managed to steer clear of the vehicle.
Moments later Brake, who was driving a U-Haul cube van westbound on Hwy 7/8 near Fischer-Hallman Rd., slammed into the back of the family’s disabled car.
Angelina was taken to Grand River Hospital and then airlifted to McMaster Children’s Hospital but did not survive. She was the couple’s only child.
Her mother was seriously injured in the crash. Her father sustained minor injuries.
Kitchener media report a breath test taken about two hours after the collision put Brake’s blood alcohol level at 140 mgs in 100 mls of blood. That’s 60 mls over the legal limit of 80.
Following the crash, Brake attempted to hide his impairment and blame the collision on his son.
Kitchener media report Brake’s defence asked for a six-year sentence, the Crown asked for 10 years.
Source: Stratford Beacon Herald