A young Ontario man has been sentenced to eight years in prison in a devastating impaired driving case that claimed the lives of three children and left a family permanently shattered.
Ethan Lehouillier, 20, of Georgetown, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including impaired driving causing death and bodily harm, following a high-speed crash on Highway 401 in Etobicoke in May 2025. The court heard he had been drinking throughout the day before getting behind the wheel late at night.
Driving at 168 km/h, Lehouillier lost control while exiting the highway, crossed a median and struck a van carrying a family returning home from Victoria Day celebrations. The collision killed three siblings — Ramone, 15, Jace, 13, and Mya, 6 — while other family members survived with injuries.
Justice Kim Crosbie, visibly emotional while delivering the sentence, described the incident as a tragic and preventable loss. The court acknowledged Lehouillier’s remorse and his decision not to seek bail, noting he had accepted responsibility for his actions.
The Crown had sought a sentence between eight and 10 years, while the defence argued for a shorter term. The final sentence of eight years falls within that range, with Lehouillier also receiving credit for time already served.
In addition to the prison term, he has been handed a 20-year driving prohibition, which will extend well beyond his release.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile impaired driving tragedies in Ontario and has renewed calls for stronger awareness around the dangers of drinking and driving.
While the legal process has concluded, the impact of the crash continues to resonate deeply, serving as a stark reminder of how a single reckless decision can have irreversible consequences for multiple families.