A 43-year-old Stouffville woman has been sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison for impaired driving that killed a Markham man and seriously injured his wife.
Carolyn Nielsen was convicted in connection with the November 2024 crash on Highway 7. At the time, she had more than three times the legal blood-alcohol limit and was driving as fast as 123 km/h in a 60 km/h zone when her SUV crossed the centre line and struck a Toyota Matrix head-on.
The crash killed 68-year-old Lloyd Szeto and sent his wife to hospital with serious injuries, including fractures to her jaw, sternum and ribs. The impact propelled the vehicle roughly 50 feet.
Police found Nielsen conscious inside her SUV and noted signs of alcohol impairment. Investigators also seized several liquor bottles from the scene, including an empty miniature bottle, a partially empty bottle of vodka and an unopened 750-mL bottle that had been purchased earlier that evening.
During sentencing, Szeto’s family described the profound loss of a husband, father and provider. Nielsen apologized to the family and said she regretted the pain caused by her actions.
Nielsen, who had been released on bail since December 2024, was taken into custody following the sentencing hearing. Her lawyer also requested that she receive medical treatment while in custody.
After completing her sentence, Nielsen will be prohibited from driving for an additional eight years and three months.