Driver who killed grandmother in head-on crash, with cocaine and fentanyl in system, asks for 2-year sentence

A Sudbury man, who was found to have drugs in his system during a head-on crash that killed a grandmother in April 2022 is seeking a two-year sentence.

A Sudbury, Ont. man, who was found to have cocaine, fentanyl and other drugs in his system during a head-on crash that killed a grandmother in April 2022 is seeking a two-year sentence.

Leo Michel, 55, apologized to the family of Irene Youngblut, 66, inside a Barrie courtroom five months after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing her death in the horrific wrong-way 5 a.m. crash in Oro-Medonte.

• Driver found with cocaine, fentanyl in system pleads guilty to causing deadly crash

Michel, who has a lengthy criminal record that includes assault, theft and drug possession convictions, admitted to being behind the wheel of his Mitsubishi RVR when it veered into oncoming traffic and struck Youngblut’s Chevy Spark while she was on her way to work as a bus driver for Orillia Transit April 7, 2022.

Youngblut, the Crown said, died of multiple blunt impact trauma, calling both cars “unrecognizable” following the wreck near Coldwater. Michel was found to have cocaine, fentanyl, methadone and THC in his system and escaped the crash with a broken leg. Michel has a lengthy criminal record including convictions for theft, assault and possession of drugs dating back about 30 years, the court heard.

His lawyer Will Caven described Michel’s long-standing mental health and addiction issues; struggles with heroin and crack, and abuse of opioids, Michel had been to rehab several times trying to sober up about 20 years ago and maintained sobriety for 18 years until his demons returned around the time of the crash.

Michel was arrested four months later in August 2022 and had been out on bail up until this past summer, when he failed to show up for his pre-trial court appearances in Barrie. Arrested in Sudbury for absconding, Michel has been behind bars since. He is also separately charged with failing to attend those court dates.

Following his guilty plea Michel heard victim impact statements from Youngblut’s loved ones who described the depression and devastation Michel caused them as they struggle to live without her by their side.

Youngblut was a beloved school and city bus driver. Her husband and children attended court to hear the defence argue Michel is seeking a two-year sentence. The Crown has asked Justice Howard Leibovich to sentence Michel to five years behind bars.

Michel is scheduled to be sentenced in two weeks.