A 32-year-old man who killed three people while driving drunk is heading to prison for five years.
He will also be prohibited from driving for 10 years.
In January last year, Clarke Gordon Harding swerved into traffic on Highway 3, just north of Sanford.
He hit 64-year-old Paul Kler’s vehicle head on, killing him instantly. Harding’s two passengers Ellory Kirkwood, 20 and Michelle Hastings, 21 also died.
Harding had pled guilty to driving while impaired.
The Crown asked for a six-year sentence, while the defence requested three.
In her decision, Judge Tracey Lord said that Harding had expressed remorse and genuine guilt over killing the three individuals.
He is also undergoing counseling for post-traumatic stress and attends sessions at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.
Lord said at the time of the crash, Harding’s blood alcohol level was between .095 and .114, compared with the legal limit of .08.
The families of both Kirkwood and Kler say they were satisfied with the sentence, although no amount of time would change anything or bring their loved ones back.
"We've all lost loved ones. He's lost a part of himself as well. We feel for his family too,” said Darlene Martens-Kler, Paul’s wife.
“This is a first-time offence, so to be sentenced to five years is a step forward,” said Melville Kirkwood, Ellory’s father.
Helen Hastings, Michelle’s sister, said she was disappointed with the five-year sentence, saying she wishes it would have been longer.
“It's not enough. It's not even enough to cover one life, let alone three. It should have been longer,” she said.
Moving forward, the families of the three victims said they hope the case sends a message and stops others from getting behind the wheel while impaired.
A judge can impose a maximum life sentence of 25 years for impaired driving causing death. However, Lord said the average in Canada is between three to five years.
