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Student crashes mom and dad's Lexus. Won't be driving for a while

An Algoma University student is facing some tough consequences for the night "he became Ferris Bueller.

An Algoma University student is facing some tough consequences for the night "he became Ferris Bueller." 

Nicholas Luck's parents were away on May 31 when the 18-year-old decided to take his mother's car and go to a fast food restaurant to get something to eat.

It was just after 3 a.m., and as he approached McDonalds on Great Northern Road the Lexus struck a light pole, an Ontario Court of Justice heard Monday.

Luck had been drinking that night and was in court to face an over 80 charge - an offence he pleaded guilty to before Justice John Condon.

When police arrived at the scene of the single-vehicle accident, the officer noted Luck's eyes were glassy and he had a strong odour of alcohol on his breath, assistant Crown attorney Nancy Komsa said.

The young man failed a roadside breath test.

Breathalyzer tests taken at the police station revealed readings of 120 and 120 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood, the prosecutor said.

Defence counsel Wayne Chorney said the teen, who wasn't fully licensed at the time when "he became Ferris Bueller for the night," has already paid more than $200 in Highway Traffic Act fines.

"He has resigned himself that he will not be driving for years and that's a real penalty for him."

Chorney said that despite the accident, the damage to the car, and the fact that Luck had taken the vehicle without his parents' consent, he and the Crown were recommending a $1,200 fine and one-year driving prohibition.

"My sincerest apology to the Crown," the teen said, when asked by the judge if he had anything to say.

"You don't have to apologize to the Crown. She's just doing her job," Condon replied. "Your apology should be directed towards your parents."

Condon told him that because of his age and the circumstances of what had occurred his insurance rates will be through the roof.

"That's the first of many consequences you have brought upon yourself."

Luck now has a criminal record that will stay with him for some time, has jeopardized his driving status and compromised his driving privilege, the judge said. 

But what probably is greatest compromised is his parents' trust, Condon said.

"How do they trust you when they go away?"

It's fortunate that all that was damaged was the pole and the car, not Luck or someone else, he said.

"You picked one of the busiest streets in Sault Ste. Marie to drive in the condition you did."

Admonishing Luck that "there isn't a time in your life that you haven't been told about drinking and driving," the judge warned that if he comes back to court on a similar charge he's going to jail.

When Condon imposed the $1,200 monetary penalty and the driving prohibition, he told Luck "I really do hope the message has gotten through to you."

"It has. Thank you," replied the second-year university music student.


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About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
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