A Yukon man who was driving in a fatal crash in May 2019 has been sentenced to 23 months in jail.

Anthony Andre, now 24, had been convicted of two charges of impaired driving causing death and one charge of impaired driving causing bodily harm.

He was at the wheel on May 13, 2019 when he drove off Hamilton Boulevard near Falcon Drive at approximately 6 a.m.

Two teenagers died in the single-vehicle collision on Hamilton Boulevard. They were Stallion Smarch, 19, of Whitehorse, and Faith Jakesta, 18, of Watson Lake.

Whitehorse RCMP, the Whitehorse Fire Department and Yukon Emergency Medical Services were called to the scene of the collision at about 6:30 a.m. that day. It had occurred about a kilometre south of Bigway Foods.

Smarch and Jakesta were found dead at the scene, and one male passenger was assessed.

The other male passenger was taken to Whitehorse General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Andre was arrested and taken to the hospital to be medically assessed.

He was later released into police custody.

His blood alcohol level was approximately twice the legal limit to drive.

On Thursday afternoon, he was sentenced to 30 months in jail.

With time already served in custody, that sentence is reduced to 23 months.

Andre was placed on two years’ probation, and was banned from driving for 41 months after his release from jail.

The Crown – which had stayed three other charges against Andre – had proposed a three-year jail term and a 10-year driving prohibition.

The defence had unsuccessfully argued that other occupants of the vehicle had gotten into an argument, and that Andre’s head had struck a side window, causing him to lose control. The vehicle struck a light standard.

Territorial Court Judge Peter Chisholm said he was “struck by the offers of forgiveness” from the friends and family members of the victims.

“They had much of their lives left,” he said of the teenagers who died.

Part of Andre’s probation order is to seek counselling and rehabilitation.

Chisholm sentenced Andre as a first offender. That was despite his having been convicted of other charges following the fatal crash as he struggled to deal with the aftermath.

“Rehabilitation is an important factor here,” Chisholm said. “Even though his moral blameworthiness was high.”

The father of a young son must also serve 50 hours of community service.

The sentence allows Andre to serve his time in the Yukon rather than being transferred further south.

Chisholm told Andre that he “hopefully had a long life ahead of him,” and urged him to take advantage of the opportunities he had for counselling to face his demons.

After the sentence was pronounced, Diane Smith, Smarch’s grandmother, told reporters she was happy with it, since it will allow Andre to serve his time locally, where he has access to family and Indigenous support networks.

“We’re very happy,” she said several times.

“I feel good now, like a heavy burden has been lifted off me since 2019.”

She also spoke of forgiving Andre, who was her grandson’s best friend.

She said she doesn’t believe sending Andre to a penitentiary would have been in his best interests instead of remaining here.

He can be assisted by programs offered by the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Smith said.

“As First Nations people, we have a different way of dealing with our justice.”

She has also suggested to him that he apply to study at Yukon University.

“This young guy has a future ahead of him. If he did go down south, I would have worried,” Smith said.