'Forgive yourself': Impaired driver who caused fatal crash sentenced to 4 years in prison

A Calgary judge offered words of encouragement to a man heading to prison following a conviction forimpaired driving that caused the death of a pedestrian.

On Thursday, Robin Erskine, 41, was handed a four-year sentence and banned from driving for five years after he was convicted earlier this year in the death of Chris Muise, 36.

At a sentencing hearing last month, Muise's father delivered a victim impact statement, telling Erskine,"My family forgives you."

Erskine expressed remorse and told the family he appreciated their forgiveness, something he said he hadn't been able to do for himself.

'Take steps toward healing'

After delivering her decision Thursday, Justice Karen Molle addressed Erskine directly.

"I hope knowing you've been forgiven unconditionally will motivate you to forgive yourself," said Molle, who encouraged Erskine to "take steps toward healing."

• 'My family forgives you': Father of fatal drunk driving crash victim speaks at sentencing hearing

On April 20, 2021, Erskine was driving home from the gym when he began to feel unwell.

At the time, he had a newly diagnosed condition caused by long-term alcohol abuse.

The condition was diagnosed five months earlier when Erskine was taken to hospital by ambulance. He vomited about one-third of his blood and was diagnosed with severe esophagitis, an esophageal ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Erskinepassed out from coughing

The esophageal condition caused Erskine to aspirate, vomit and cough until he passed out while driving.

He failed to negotiate a curve in the road, crossed two lanes of traffic and drove up onto a grassy area, striking and killing Muise.

Two hours after the crash, Erskine had a blood alcohol level of .08.

Molle ruled that Erskine was guilty of the two charges because "a reasonable person would have foreseen the risk of a collision in Mr. Erskine's circumstances."

Not only did Erskine choose to drive after consuming alcohol, "when feeling ill, he continued to drive rather than pull over and seek help," said Molle in her decision.

Paul Muise described his son as a passionate sports fan who'd happened to takea vacation daythe day he was killed.