Ottawa

Martin Lauzon gets 3 years in prison after truck wheel caused fatal crash

A tractor-trailer driver was sentenced to three years in prison after a dual wheel set fell off his vehicle and crashed into a car, killing the man inside, on Highway 401 west of Brockville, Ont., in December 2011.

Jason Eligh was killed when a wheel set crashed into his windshield on Highway 401 in December 2011

Jason Eligh, pictured with one of his children, was killed when wheels flew off a tractor trailer in December 2011.

A tractor-trailer driver was sentenced to three years in prison for a December 2011 fatal crash caused after a dual wheel set detached from his vehicle on Highway 401 west of Brockville, Ont.

Martin Lauzon, found guilty of criminal negligence causing death, was also banned from driving for five years, Justice Robert Pelletier ruled in a Brockville courtroom Friday.

Jason Eligh, 24, was killed instantly when the wheel set crossed the concrete barrier from the westbound lanes into the eastbound lanes, crashing into his windshield.

Eligh, a father of two from Mallorytown, Ont., was alone in the car at the time of the crash.

Lauzon did not realize the wheel set had fallen off his truck until he was pulled over by police 100 kilometres away from the crash site, the Crown's office in Brockville told CBC News.

He had not done regular maintenance of his truck, the Crown's office said.