Toronto

The family of a 52-year-old Scarborough grandmother who was killed four years ago by a delivery truck driver say they’re satisfied by his three-year jail sentence, although it won’t bring her back.

Still, the older brother of Manoranjana Kanagasabapathy hopes the sentence given 44-year-old Vicente Arbis by Ontario Superior Court Justice Kelly Wright in a Toronto courtroom late Monday will deter others from deadly, reckless, dangerous and distracted driving.

“It brings a closure but there was a destruction of many families and that can not be changed,” said Kandiah Kanagarajah outside the courthouse with younger brother Panchalingam Kandiah at his side.

“Our expectation is to make the roads more safer for the rest of the people.”

Court heard that Arbis was rushing and about an hour late just before noon on Aug. 13, 2013, when his food delivery truck travelling eastbound on Steeles veered into the westbound lane and collided with a TTC bus picking up passengers at the northeast corner of Steeles and Middlefield Rd.

Arbis also severely injured a woman, Bam Vimlan, walking down the street and the TTC bus driver Aaron Lavery, who both remain in chronic pain.

After hearing five victim impact statements from members of the deceased’s family, that she was “the glue to the puzzle pieces of our family,” Wright said she had to take into account that their lives “changed forever” with the fact that Arbis was a first-time offender and “a good man” from all accounts in his pre-sentence report. Court heard he was a married father of three who moved to Canada in 2011. A translator was present in court for him.

“We don’t challenge whether he’s a good man or bad man,” said Kanagarajah. “If somebody makes the road dangerous by their behaviour then the justice system has to make sure that they deter the dangerous drivers.”

Arbis was convicted by a jury last December on six charges. He was sentenced Monday to a three-year sentence for criminal negligence causing death and two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The family of the deceased woman also say they never heard Arbis say he was sorry.

“Definitely it would have consoled a little bit,” said Kanagarajah.