Saskatoon teen sentenced to probation for joyriding crash that killed 16-year-old friend

A Saskatoon teen who pleaded guilty to crashing his dad's car and killing his 16-year-old friend while joyriding is not going to jail.

Rather, the teen, who is now 16, will be on probation for two years and then not be allowed to drive for another four years. Provincial court Judge Brad Mitchell accepted the joint sentencing submission from prosecutor Michael Pilon and defence lawyer Ron Piche in court Tuesday.

The teen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He cannot be named because of his age.

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Pilon detailed the sequence of events that began just after midnight on April 14, 2024.

The 15-year-old took his dad's 2008 Honda Civic without permission to go joyriding with friends. The teen had neither a learners or drivers licence at the time. His dad was working a night shift and not at home.

The teen and a group of friends spent the next five hours "cruising around Saskatoon," Pilon said, until around 5 a.m. CST when he began dropping off his friends "and racing to beat his dad home." None of the teens were drinking or doing drugs, he said.

The teen and two passengers were in the car on Taylor Street East when he lost control travelling at twice the posted speed limit, spinning out and broadsiding a shear-proof power pole, which then caused the car to flip onto its roof. The driver and front-seat passenger were wearing seat belts, but the teen in the back seat was not and he was thrown from the car.

"The victim died on impact," Pilon said.

Police at the scene described the 15-year-old as "remorseful and co-operative," at one point volunteering to officers, "I killed him."

None of the victim's family were in court Tuesday for the sentencing "because it was too traumatic for them to attend," Pilon said.

The 16-year-old was the youngest in the family and the only son. Friends said his father is still devastated, and he is now simply "waiting to meet his son," Pilon said.

Piche spoke for the young driver, describing its "profound impact on him."

"He is still feeling remorse, and he has empathy for the family."

The teen and his father were the only family members in the court gallery.

In addition to the probation and driving prohibition, the teen must obey a one-year curfew, do 240 hours of community service and prepare a written apology to the victim's family.