19-year-old driver who killed cyclist in Wellington Crescent hit and run sentenced to 3 years

A 19-year-old driver who lost control of a speeding car and killed a cyclist on Winnipeg's Wellington Crescent in a hit and run last year has been sentenced to three years behind bars.

Rob Jenner, 61, was hit on Wellington, just east of Academy Road, on the morning of June 6, as he was biking to his job at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

A collision reconstruction analyst who reviewed the scene determined a BMW driven by Beckham Keneth Severight, who pleaded guilty in October to dangerous driving causing death, was going at least 159 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

"This crime has left Mr. Jenner's wife without a husband, his children without a father, his nieces and nephews without an uncle, and his uncles without a nephew," said provincial court Judge Cynthia Devine in a Wednesday sentencing hearing, during which she sentenced Severight to three years in custody for dangerous driving causing death and one year for leaving the scene of an accident, to be served consecutively.

"Every cyclist in Winnipeg has felt endangered, frightened, distrustful and terrorized at some point over the last eight months," Devine said in her sentencing, a recording of which was reviewed by CBC.

Severight, who only had his learner's permit at the time of the collision, lost control of the car due to the speed he was driving and started skidding as he tried to avoid hitting Jenner, court was told. 

The car's front bumper hit the bike's rear tire, throwing Jenner onto and across the vehicle's hood and windshield.

He was thrown up to 10 feet into the air before landing on the pavement, Devine's sentencing decision says.

He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.

Severight fled the scene of the crash, along with his then 18-year-old roommate, who had leased the BMW and was also in the car at the time of the crash.

After the crash, Severight's roommate told him to keep driving, court previously heard. They travelled a short distance down Wellington Crescent before pulling over so they could switch seats, and left the area without checking to see if Jenner was injured or needed help.

"The bad advice from his 18-year-old friend won the day and he drove away," Devine's sentencing decision said.

"He had to know someone was seriously injured, if not killed. He did not stop, did not go back, and did not call 911."

Cyclists 'roll the dice on tragedy': impact statement

In her decision, Devine read quotes from a community impact statement by cyclists in the city, who shared their stories in response to Jenner's death.

"The death of Rob Jenner has come for the sickening implication that simply to exist, to transit, to exercise, to live, we must roll the dice on tragedy," Devine quoted from the impact statement.

"Every Friday, I wear red on my bike commute to remind myself to finish the week strong, like Rob used to. I still haven't been able to ride the section of my street where he was killed," said another quote from the community impact statement.

Jenner's wife, Wendy Van Loon, read her own victim impact statement in court, "talking about how excruciating the memory of that morning is and how her heart is shattered, and her life is forever changed," Devine's decision says.

"This was the year he intended to retire. They had plans to travel. She misses their walks. Her house is empty," the decision said.

Another 35 people provided the court with letters of support on Severight's behalf, attesting to his character as a driven and nurturing person who encouraged others.

"People who know him were universally shocked to learn of the fatal accident because it was totally out of character for him," Devine's decision said.

Severight is an Indigenous young man who has "overcome much hardship" in his life and grew up as a permanent ward of the state, the decision said.

"I never meant to take that man away from his family and kids," Severight said in his pre-sentence report.

"I personally know what it is like to grow up without a family and I wouldn't wish that on any one."

The Crown had asked for a four-year sentence, while the defence sought 18 months in custody, followed by 18 months of supervised probation.

Devine said because of Jenner's death, the sentence needed to denounce the crime, but she took into consideration Severight's contrition, his background and circumstances.

"He is sincerely wracked with guilt and has significant insight into the offences," said Devine.

He was given credit for the time he's been in custody, leaving him with around 22 months left to serve. That means he will avoid a federal prison sentence, since sentences of less than two years are served in provincial jails.

Severight will be on supervised probation for one year after his release, and will be banned from driving a vehicle for five years.

Severight's roommate, who is charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, is scheduled to appear in court again in May.