Impaired Tesla driver who reached top speed of 196 km/h before deadly crash sentenced

Fatal high-speed drunk driving crash case against Wasaga Beach man Jefferson Dance, sentenced to 8 years behind bars.

A Wasaga Beach man convicted of impaired and dangerous driving causing death in an April 2022 crash has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

In no mood to talk, Jefferson Dance, 48, hurried into the Barrie courthouse Wednesday morning where he was sentenced for killing 62-year-old Jim Lynne along Mosley Street in Wasaga Beach Apr. 9, 2022. The fatal crash was shortly after midnight, seconds after Dance left a bar nearby.

The court heard Dance, while behind the wheel of his Tesla Model Y reached a speed of 196 kilometres per hour with between three and four times the legal limit of alcohol in his system. He crashed into the back of Lynne’s Nissan Juke while Lynne was delivering pizzas in town.

Lynne’s family, who attended every court appearance including trial earlier this year, said they were grateful Dance has been sent to prison for senselessly killing Lynne.

“Almost four times the speed, four times the alcohol. His age, he’s old enough to know better,” said Lynne’s sister Ila Barnes. “But that’s the way the justice system works. I am glad he got eight years. At least more people are going to be safe for a few years.”

In his sentencing decision, Justice Mark Edwards said the result of Dance’s actions was a “totally needless and avoidable tragedy” following a night out drinking with a friend. The court heard Dance, and a friend shared a bottle of wine over dinner and spent hours drinking at the bar. Dance was identified as the driver of the Tesla. His friend, who was in the passenger seat, survived the crash, while Lynne died on scene.

Justice Edwards called the speeds Dance reached while driving his Tesla “almost unimaginable,” adding Dance, an intelligent man, dedicated father and contributing member in the community “knew what he was doing was wrong in so many ways.”

Justice Edwards said it was “pure happenstance” Dance “did not kill multiple people” that night and dismissed a suggestion by the defence that Dance’s actions were the result of a momentary lapse of judgement.

“I feel that Jefferson should have opted for a drive home and didn’t,” said Lynne’s stepdaughter Osean Gravel. “He got what he deserved.”

The defence sought a sentence of four to five years along with a lifetime driving ban while the Crown asked Dance receive a sentence of 10 years behind bars citing his egregious driving record that included drunk driving and several speeding convictions.

The defence had suggested a defect in Dance’s Tesla led to sudden acceleration prior to the crash. The judge did not accept the defence’s theories and said no evidence was put before the court to suggest the defence claims were true.

Dance cried in court several times before being led away in handcuffs. He was consoled by his team of defence lawyers, led by experienced counsel Robert Geurts.

“We would just like to say that today is the day for reflection, and our hearts and minds go out to the family,” said co-counsel Nimrat Brar outside the courthouse.

Lynne’s family remembers him as a loving brother, uncle and stepdad who went out of his way to help others, including driving people home safely from the bar.

“He loved us so much, there’s nothing I can say but he loved us to the moon and back,” said Gravel.

Following his release from prison, Dance will be banned from driving for 15 years.