A New Brunswick man who was driving drunk when he hit and seriously injured a pedestrian walking along a downtown Edmonton sidewalk has been put behind bars.

Lukas John Doucet, 18, was sentenced to one year in jail Tuesday after pleading guilty to driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08 and causing bodily harm.

Provincial Court Judge Donna Groves — who spoke about the dangers of drunk driving while noting the victim had suffered “horrific” injuries in the “tragic” Oct. 6 collision — also banned Doucet from driving for two years.

“This case, unfortunately, highlights what can result when someone chooses to drink and drive,” said Groves.

The judge accepted that the incident was “out of character” for the Miramichi teen — who came to Alberta to work — and described his actions as a “poor use of judgment.”

Court heard Doucet had been out drinking whiskey the night before the collision and had slept at a friend’s place for five hours before waking up to drive to Calgary.

Crown prosecutor Breena Smith told court Doucet had been driving a 2005 Chrysler Intrepid east on Jasper Avenue about 7 a.m. when he crossed into the west-bound traffic lanes after passing 114 Street.

Smith said Doucet mounted the curb and began driving along the sidewalk, where he struck two parking meters and two newspaper boxes before hitting Stuart Hoye, 27, and sending the local actor-writer into a video store wall.

Court heard Doucet then hit a concrete garbage receptacle before slamming into a light post and coming to rest.

Smith said Doucet identified himself as the driver and police, after smelling booze on his breath, later got a blood sample from him. His blood-alcohol reading was .10, but court heard it would have been higher at the time.

Hoye was taken to hospital with a fractured pelvis, fractured vertebrae and internal cranial bleeding and was put into a medically-induced coma for surgery.

Smith said Hoye, who has little memory of the collision, was on his way to work. Court heard he spent a month in hospital and remains on disability leave while he undergoes therapy to regain movement in his right foot.

Defence lawyer Dino Bottos told court Doucet had been drinking with friends at the Druid the night before and slept for five hours before getting up to go visit his sister.

“Mr. Doucet didn’t realize he was still over the legal limit and impaired,” said Bottos, adding his client told police he initially went onto the sidewalk after swerving to avoid hitting another pedestrian who was crossing the street.

Court heard there was no evidence of a second pedestrian on surveillance videos from nearby businesses.

Doucet was also ordered to pay $4,262 in restitution to the City of Edmonton for the property damage he caused.

tony.blais@sunmedia.ca

@SUNTonyBlais