A father who caused the death of his 7-year-old son was sentenced to six years in prison this week.
The incident took place in September 2021 when Matthew Darlington was returning home to Vancouver Island from the mainland via ferry.
According to court records, Darlington had ingested methamphetamine and smoked cannabis before driving home.
While driving through Sooke, he drove off the highway and crashed into a tree with his spouse in the passenger seat and three children in the back seats.
All of the vehicle’s occupants suffered injuries, but Darlington’s 7-year-old son succumbed to his injuries in hospital around five hours after the crash.
Darlington reportedly had no memory of the collision, and was unconscious at the time. He admitted to the court that his ability to drive was impaired by the drugs he had taken.
According to his criminal record, 49-year-old Darlington has had previous run-ins with the law which include convictions for acts of violence and threats of violence.
Additionally, court records show he was convicted of driving while prohibited in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, twice in 2017, twice in 2019 and in 2022.
At the time of the crash that killed his son, he was also prohibited from driving.
The court says it is worthy to note that the tragic accident which occurred in September 2021 did not deter him from driving, in defiance of his prohibition.
Since the crash, Darlington and his spouse divorced and she reportedly does not want any contact with him.
Despite this, the Ministry of Children and Family Development reports that Darlington has taken positive steps to repair his relationships with his two surviving children.
“In his remarks to court at the sentencing hearing, Mr. Darlington spoke of the importance of those relationships and his resolve to be a good parent to them,” wrote Judge Ted Gouge, Provincial Court of British Columbia, in his decision.
Darlington reportedly pleaded guilty in the court, but first opted for a trial when he had the chance to enter a guilty plea earlier on in the process.
The maximum sentence for his actions was a life sentence, according to the court.
During sentencing, the Crown sought a sentence of five to six years’ incarceration and a 15-year driving prohibition. Darlington’s representation was asking for leniency, with a proposed conditional sentence of two years.
“Mr. Darlington has a lengthy record of disobedience to court orders and the driving prohibitions issued by of the [sic] Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. If a conditional sentence were imposed, it is unlikely that he would obey any of the conditions of the sentence,” wrote Judge Gouge.
“His disobedience of past driving prohibitions demonstrates that he will probably continue to drive, no matter what order I make. His lengthy and serious driving history demonstrates that, when driving, he puts others at constant risk. As a consequence, the only way in which I can protect the public from him is to order his incarceration.”
Gouge added that although he acknowledges the needs of Darlington’s two surviving children, the judge does not believe that he is a good role model for his kids.
In terms of what the Crown was seeking for sentencing, Judge Gouge said he found a driving prohibition of 15 years to be “manifestly insufficient.”
“Mr. Darlington should never again drive a motor vehicle,” Judge Gouge added.
By the end of sentencing, Darlington was given a six-year sentence and a 35 year driving prohibition.
