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Poisson gets 5 years for drunk-driving crash that killed his friend

Noah Poisson was 19 when he drove his pickup truck off Line 13 in Oro-Medonte, killing 19-year-old passenger Parker Pautsch in 2016
2019-05-24 Poisson 1 crop
Noah Poisson leaves the Barrie courthouse in this file photo from May 24, 2019. Shawn Gibson/BarrieToday

A 22-year-old Oro-Medonte Township man was sentenced today to five years in jail and given a seven-year driving prohibition following his conviction for impaired driving causing death in a crash that killed his friend in 2016.

On Aug. 15, 2016, Noah Poisson was 19 when he drove his pickup truck off Line 13 in Oro-Medonte, a rural road north of Barrie, killing 19-year-old passenger Parker Pautsch.

The truck landed on Pautsch, who was not wearing a seat-belt, after he was ejected from the vehicle.

Poisson's alcohol-blood level was in the area of 129 to 164 milligrams — well over the legal limit of 80  — on the night of the deadly crash.

In late-May, victim impact statements were entered into the court record, including one from the victim's mother, Cathy Pautsch, who showed compassion for Poisson.

"Noah, I know my voice here today won't make a difference, however I do not think time in jail will help you, either," she said in court on May 24, 2019.

"I do feel a donation to MADD Canada in honour of Parker and also community service with visits to high school to show other young people the dangers of impaired driving would help," Pautsch added. 

In May, the Crown attorney had asked for upwards of seven years jail time and a 10-year driving suspension, while the defence argued for a lighter sentence due to Poisson having no criminal record, as well as the remorse he'd shown and forgiveness from the Pautsch family.