Driver involved in fatal North Vancouver crash now faces impaired driving charges

It was a tragic story from the start Marcelina Agulay, a beloved grandmother, praised for her political and community work, allegedly killed by a drunk driver who crossed the centre line late one night along North Vancouver's Low Level Road.

That tragedy only grew in the months that followed, as the victim's husband, Leonilo Agulay a passenger who had initially survived the crash also died.

Now the driver of the other car faces charges in connection to the March 2, 2021incident.

Andre Matthew Lukat, 46, faces charges of dangerous operationof a vehicle causing death, impaired operation of a vehicle causing death, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, and impaired operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm.

"They were just trying to get home. They were just trying to get home," said the Agulays'nephew, Jo Cumigad, on Friday.

Cumigad spoke on behalf of the family the Agulays' son Leomar Agulay is still too torn up about the tragedy.

"He's an only child to have to bear this. His heartache is second to none," said Cumigad.

For Beth Dollaga, a close family friend, the criminal charges came as welcome news.

"It was a mixed feeling of, 'Finally, it's going to be heard,' and the high hopes and prayers that justice be served," said Dollaga, who worked with Marcelina Agulay on political and community campaigns, largely in the name of supporting Filipino migrants.

"Impaired driving exacts a devastating cost," she said, adding that beyond consequences for the accused in the case, she hopes the government and organizations will work harder to carry out programs to prevent more lives being lost.

For the family, the charges came as a relief.

Cumigad said he hopes Lukat "owns up" to what happened, and he would like to hear an apology.

Lukat's first court appearance is scheduledMarch 30.

The second death

Police originally reported that Leonilo Agulay had survived the crash, though they cautioned that his injuries were life-threatening.

News of his wife's death was kept from him, according to Cumigad, as Agulaystruggled with his own recovery. He was rarely conscious in the weeks that followed the crash, and he missed his wife's funeral.

When he was eventually told the awful truth, he was heartbroken, said Cumigad.

"I mean it was the love of his life; how do you put that in words?" he said.

Agulay worked at Walmart, which is where his wife had picked himup in North Vancouver the night of the crash.

Cumigad said he wasn't as deeply involved in community work as his wife, but he was always by her side supporting her.

Dollagafondly remembers what a great cook Agulay was.

"I call him Filipino chef, because he's good at cooking all the Filipino food," she said.

The charges filedby prosecutors don't reflect Agulay's death, though Dollaga saidthey ought to she arguesthe crash is the root cause of his death.

A spokesperson with theB.C. Prosecution Service wouldn't speak to specifics of the case, but said in an emailed statement that "the Crown has to prove every element of an offence beyond a reasonable doubt."

Cumigadsays the family would also prefer if the driver's charges included his uncle's death, even though Agulay did appearto be recovering for a time in the three months after the crash.

"He didn't just die just from his injuries, but because of a broken heart," said Cumigad.