dangerous driving

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

An Île-Bizard woman could be spending nearly three and a half years behind bars after being found guilty in a collision that killed a cyclist in Pierrefonds in 2021. Christine Pryde was convicted of dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving, and criminal negligence for her role in the crash that claimed the life of Irène Dehem, a 50-year-old mother of three.

This week, the sentencing hearing unfolded at the Montreal courthouse. Prosecutor Anik Archambault called for a 42-month prison sentence and an eight-year driving ban, telling Judge Dennis Galiatsatos that Pryde’s efforts to deal with her anxiety since the crash were noted, but the gravity of her actions required a serious response. “Had these efforts not been present, a higher sentence would have been suggested,” Archambault stated. The prosecution’s position was clear: public safety and deterrence need to be at the forefront.

The events of May 18, 2021, were recounted at trial. Pryde, feeling tired and worn out at work, got behind the wheel of her Hyundai Accent around midday, opting to drive out for an iced coffee instead of sticking with what was on offer at her workplace. Her route took her down l’Anse-à-l’Orme Rd., where Dehem was out cycling. According to eyewitnesses who recounted their experiences at trial, Pryde’s vehicle was moving quickly, swerving into the opposite lane, and struck Dehem almost instantly as she rounded a corner on her bike. One witness estimated Pryde’s speed at about 80 kilometres an hour.

The aftermath of the collision, as recounted at trial, was chaotic and emotional. Christine Pryde stayed inside her car until police arrived on the scene. Montreal Police officer Sylvain Carrier testified that Pryde told him she had fallen asleep at the wheel. When Kathleen Crawford, a motorist who stopped to help, checked on Pryde just before officers arrived, she found her sitting in the car, crying, clearly in shock and repeatedly pleading, “Please help her, please help her.” Both Officer Carrier and Crawford recounted at trial that Pryde explained she was exhausted and heading to Tim Hortons for an Iced Cappuccino. Witnesses described her as disoriented and overwhelmed by what had happened.

As for Dehem, other motorists rushed to her aid, but despite efforts to revive her—including CPR performed under the guidance of a 911 operator—she died at the scene. Witness testimony recounted at trial painted a picture of a crash that happened in an instant, leaving little chance for anyone to react.

Evidence at trial revealed Pryde had taken Ativan, a prescription medication for anxiety, before getting behind the wheel that day. She’d struggled with anxiety for most of her life, and the judge ruled that she was fully aware of her condition and the risks involved in driving after taking her medication.

Pryde’s defense lawyer, Jessy Héroux, argued for a much lighter sentence, pointing out that in similar cases, sentences have varied from 90 days in jail to conditional sentences served at home. Héroux also argued that the intense media coverage of Pryde’s case, which escalated after a controversial ruling on Quebec’s new language laws, has already been a heavy burden for her. He asked the court to consider a 15-month conditional sentence with extended probation and a long driving prohibition, emphasizing Pryde’s ongoing efforts to seek treatment for her anxiety since the accident.

The case was complicated further by the province’s Bill 96, which requires court decisions to be delivered in both English and French. Judge Galiatsatos said he will only deliver his decision once both versions are available, tentatively aiming for October 6. Both sides agree that only the impaired driving conviction should stand, with the other charges to be stayed. The judge’s final decision will weigh Pryde’s responsibility for what happened against her efforts at rehabilitation, and the devastating loss suffered by Dehem’s family. n