P.E.I. man who crashed vehicle while drunk gets jail time

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - A North Bedeque area man who hit a light stand while driving drunk was sentenced recently to seven days in jail.

Matthew John MacKay, 27, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to failing the breathalyzer.

The court heard that on Dec. 10, Charlottetown police were called to a collision where they found MacKay’s vehicle with a piece of a light stand stuck in the front end.

Another part of the light was on the ground and the police found MacKay nearby on his phone.

A witness told police it appeared MacKay threw beer bottles out a window after the crash.

MacKay provided breathalyzer samples that were twice the legal limit.

Defence lawyer Yolande Murphy told the court MacKay considered himself to be lucky because no one was injured.

Along with the jail time, MacKay must pay a $1,000 fine and a $300 victim surcharge.

He is banned from driving for one year.

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