Fatal road rage on the 15: Alexandra Gagné-Faucher will spend five years in prison for the manslaughter of a father

An impulsive driver who fled after killing a father by deliberately driving into him during a sudden episode of overtaking on Highway 15 was sentenced to five years in detention, a sentence allowing the victim’s spouse to finally “turn the page.”

“She used her vehicle as a weapon. […] The accused was aware of the seriousness of the actions. She falsified evidence and lied to her mother,” lamented Judge Éric Downs before sentencing Alexandra Gagné-Faucher on Wednesday at the Laval courthouse.

At the end of a jury trial, she was found guilty in June of the involuntary manslaughter of Stéphane Taillon and a fatal hit-and-run.

Under the gaze of relatives and the victim’s three children, the driver left for detention this morning, with her luggage in hand, where she will spend the next five years.

For Stéphane Taillon’s partner, this step will allow him to close this painful chapter. “At each court hearing, we delved into it again, it brought everything back. It will allow us to move forward with the mourning, which is still very present,” said Lucie Gaboriault.

Thrown into the air

One morning in September 2022, the 31-year-old woman crossed paths with Stéphane Taillon on Highway 15 North. The two motorists began to cut each other off.

In the following minutes, the Montrealer and Mr. Taillon stopped their vehicles on the shoulder of the service road. Seeing that he was coming towards her on foot, the driver of the gray Hyundai Accent accelerated and hit the victim in the legs.

At her trial, she raised the theory of self-defense, saying she was afraid. Obviously, the jury didn’t believe it.

The father was thrown several feet into the air before falling head first. The 53-year-old man died of traumatic brain injury the next day.

His partner of the last seven years hardly remembers the last image of him. At the hospital, his knuckles were broken and his skull was split open, M described.^me Gaboriault.

She runs away from her responsibilities

After the collision, Alexandra Gagné-Faucher fled with her pedal to the metal. The authorities issued wanted notices on a large scale. She was arrested five days later.

In the meantime, she tried to cover up her crime. Six minutes after the impact, she contacted the first auto glass repair company. She also read media articles about the hit-and-run, purchased new hubcaps and paint, and made some repairs to the vehicle.

“The accused acted with contempt when she hit someone head-on with her vehicle and could not ignore that serious injury, if not death, would result. […] She shamelessly shied away from her responsibilities,” said Judge Downs.

During sentencing submissions, her own mother described her as impulsive, having been since childhood.

The lawsuit asked for up to seven and a half years in detention. On the other hand, Alexandra Gagné-Faucher hoped to get away with two years less a day to serve in the community. She is appealing the verdict.