A $2,000 fine for driving a vehicle into oncoming traffic and killing a much-loved Penticton husband, father and grandfather is a sign of a flawed legal system, said Steve DahnertB次元官网网址檚 widow.

Carlie Dudych, 21, was sentenced in Kelowna Provincial Court last week (Nov. 14) to a fine of $2,000 for crossing the double solid line on Highway 33 into oncoming traffic, hitting DahnertB次元官网网址檚 motorcycle he was driving on Thanksgiving Day 2020. Dahnert died later in hospital from the injuries he sustained in the crash.

According to SteveB次元官网网址檚 wife Tracy Dahnert, Dudych showed no emotion in the courtroom, even through listening to very emotional Victim Impact Statements and with many crying in the courtroom.

When asked by the judge if she had anything to say, Dudych said, B次元官网网址淚 am truly sorry.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e understand $2,000 was the maximum fine that could be levied and appreciate that the judge imposed the maximum fine, but she deserved so much more, and it is reflective of our flawed legal system where a person can take another life and walk away with a bill much less than what she paid her lawyer in fees. And she gets a year to pay the $2,000 fine,B次元官网网址� said Tracy.

An instructor at Okanagan CollegeB次元官网网址檚 Penticton campus, DahnertB次元官网网址檚 death had a huge impact both with his close-knit family, his work and community.

Flags at the Penticton campus were lowered after they heard of their colleagueB次元官网网址檚 passing. Dahnert was a long-time OC Trades and Apprenticeship instructor who began teaching in the Electrical Trades department in July 2006.

He shared his knowledge and passion with countless students over the past 14 years, said OC at the time.

Tracy also speaks to the added trauma the family had to go through while the accused continued to draw out legal proceedings by pleading guilty and retracting to choosing trial and changing her mind.

B次元官网网址淣ot only causing emotional and psychological distress for the family and friends, but also inconvenience and costs as we would book time off of work, and those people coming from the lower mainland and the Island would book travel arrangements and accommodations which were sometimes too late to cancel,B次元官网网址� she added.

A driverB次元官网网址檚 licence is a privilege and operating a vehicle is a responsibility that every driver must take very seriously, Tracy and all of DahnertB次元官网网址檚 family stressed.

B次元官网网址淢y husbandB次元官网网址檚 life and loss to me, to our family, our friends, our community, is larger than the court proceedings and sentencing, it is a lifetime for us.B次元官网网址�

The family is still hoping that the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles B次元官网网址榳ill do the right thingB次元官网网址� and revoke DudychB次元官网网址檚 licence. But no driving bans were imposed in court.

His daughter Siobhan Wyman held a memorial blood donor clinic at the Penticton Seniors Drop-in Centre last October to honour her dad, a lifelong blood donor.

B次元官网网址淚t makes me feel close to my dad, it makes me think heB次元官网网址檇 be proud of me,B次元官网网址� said Wyman. B次元官网网址淗e was so passionate about it, and itB次元官网网址檚 such a little thing that I can do to carry on his passion, and itB次元官网网址檚 so needed.B次元官网网址�

Even if the Kelowna womanB次元官网网址檚 license was taken away, nothing is enough, said Tracy.

B次元官网网址淭here are never enough words to express how this loss has affected all of us, we are still very broken,B次元官网网址� said Tracy.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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