Nearly three years after a violent head-on collision in July 2020 on 69th Avenue in Saint-Zotique near Highway 20, at-fault driver Liban Omar Birir was sentenced at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse on June 7.

Birir, who was facing numerous charges, including impaired driving and possession of criminal property, was brought before Judge Bertrand St. Arnaud for sentencing. 

Last January, Mr. Birir was due to appear before the Court of Quebec to finalize his case. Birir did not appear and the magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest. The document ordered his immediate arrest by Canadian law enforcement authorities. 

In the first case, the accused was granted a conditional stay of proceedings on the first count of the indictment. On the second count, he was found guilty by the court before receiving a concurrent sentence of two years  imprisonment, with a four-year driving ban after his release. 

In the second case, the accused faced a total of nine counts, which were resolved as follows: 

- Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4: amended;

- Counts 5, 7, 8 and 9: conditional arrests; 

On count 6, he was convicted and sentenced to a concurrent term of two years imprisonment and a four-year driving ban after release. 

Under the Quebec judicial system, concurrent prison sentences are served at the same time and do not accumulate. 

The accused was represented by Maitre Benoît Cliche. 

Still receiving treatment three years later 

Daniel Laflèche, the victim in the accident is the Assistant Director of the Rivière-Beaudette fire department and a paramedic for CÉTAM. 

The accident occurred when Birir, who was in a stolen vehicle being chased by police, crashed into Laflèche's car at very high speed. 

The police, who were a considerable distance away from the fleeing vehicle when the head-on collision occurred, quickly arrived on the scene. 

Firefighters from Saint-Zotique and Rivière-Beaudette also assisted Laflèche who was conscious while trapped in his vehicle, which had been transformed into a heap of scrap metal. 

Nearly three years after the incident, Laflèche is still undergoing treatment to help him get back on his feet.

"After the collision, I had to undergo 15 months of rehabilitation before I could return to work. Even today, I still have to undergo treatments, most of which are not covered by my insurance. I spend about $200 a month out of my own pocket on treatments.

"At first, I was compensated by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec but the benefits did not cover all the costs. These benefits have now ended and I'm awaiting compensation from IVAC (Indemnisation des victimes d'actes criminels). In the meantime, my group insurance covers part of my expenses," he says. 

When asked how he feels about the sentence given to the accused, Laflèche said, "I just want to move on to the next stage of my life."