Partner of Winnipeg woman killed in crash calls driver 'menace to the road'

The driver who killed 27-year-old Kendall Wiebe after crashing his SUV into a Winnipeg hair salon has a lengthy record of traffic offences — and Wiebe's partner said he should never be allowed back behind the wheel.

Adebola Shoyoye pleaded guilty on Monday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death in connection to the 2012 crash on Portage Avenue.

Steve Cancilla told the court at a sentencing hearing Monday that the past few years since his partner's death have been hard on the family.

"It's been very difficult and I have young kids and one of them is obviously hers," said Cancilla. "Her little one misses her mom every day and it's very, very difficult."

Shoyoye also pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, as one of Wiebe's co-workers was injured.

Long list of traffic offences

The court heard Shoyoye has a history of traffic offences, including infractions under the Highway Traffic Act.

In total, the Crown said in court Shoyoye has been involved in 11 collision in the last 10 years, eight of which he was found to be at fault. One of those eight collisions happened after Wiebe was killed, as did two Highway Traffic Act infractions that involved things like speeding.

The judge revoked Shoyoye's licence Monday in court.

Cancilla said he can't get his head around how Shoyoye had been allowed to keep driving for the almost three years since the crash that took his partner's life.

"I was very surprised, considering the record that he does have. It's atrocious," said Cancilla. "The guy's an absolute menace to the road. You saw with all the convictions with different accidents and things like that. I don't think anybody's safe ... I don't think he should ever have a licence again."

Brian Smiley with Manitoba Public Insurance said earlier Monday that MPI has a unit dedicated to monitoring drivers who are frequently involved in at-fault collisions.

"There are checks and balances in place to ensure that the high-risk driver is made aware that their high-risk driving is not to be tolerated and there are consequences, both in terms of suspensions and finances towards keeping or retaining their driver's licence," said Smiley.​

At first, drivers may be given advisories, fines or forced to take responsible driving workshops. If the behaviour remains high risk in nature, Smiley said the driver can be put through a "show cause hearing," which can result in a licence suspension.

Death a 'tragic accident,' says defence

Soyoye's lawyer Tim Valgardson called the incident a "tragic accident," adding "a life was lost but it was an accident nonetheless."​ He said his client is a religious man who takes full responsibility for what happened.

But Cancilla has a hard time believing that.

"I honestly don't believe it. When you have that amount of time, there's a million things you could do with a vehicle in order to stop it," he said. "It just doesn't make sense. It never will to me. I don't think I'll ever get, like, a full conclusion of it. Like I said in my statement there: nothing will ever make sense in this situation."

Cancilla said he and his family are trying to move on, but added he has been forever changed.

"Leave it to the judge, but when you have somebody taken from you like that, it's an eye for an eye," said Cancilla. "You want maximum punishment that you can possibly get, and considering the situation, if it's two years, then I would like two years. If it's 10 years, then I would like 10 years."

Smiley said that in cases of dangerous driving causing death where a driver is convicted, a five year driver's licence suspension is typically issued.

The Crown is seeking jail time, while Valgardson wants his client's sentence to be served in the community.

2012 crash

Shoyoye's new Jeep crashed into the hair salon where Wiebe was working near Portage Avenue and Cavalier Drive on April 7, 2012.

At the time of the crash, police said he was driving northbound in the area of Rouge Road and Allard Avenue when he lost control of the vehicle.

The Jeep went across Portage, over the curb and veered across the parking lot of a Safeway at a high rate of speed before crashing into the salon.

Valgardson said his client was "pumping the gas pedal believing it was the brakes" when he crashed through the salon's front window.

Valgardson added that a witness at the scene said Shoyoye appeared shocked after the crash and was heard saying "I couldn't stop."

The judge reserved his decision Monday, adjourning court proceedings until April 30. Cancilla said he's OK waiting until then.

"I'd rather they take the time to think about it, because just going through a lot of it myself and listening to, you know, sometimes these cases can be not treated as what the victims want, so it looks he's going to take the time to go through more of the evidence and stuff to really evaluate the situation, which I'm fairly happy about.

"So in one way, no, because it would be nice to get it resolved, but definitely to have a conclusion that's going to be fitting for the situation is much ... better to me."