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Gerard Joseph Talbot, 22, of Trenton and his friend James Markland, had been drinking at two Etobicoke bars on the night of March 25, 1999 before they blew through a RIDE spot check. They were driving a stolen vehicle at the time. They took off from pursuing police, eventually heading north on The West Mall before running a red light at Bloor Street and plowing into Valeriy Larry Kovaliv. Gerard Talbot escaped on foot but was arrested the following day. Larry, a Mississauga father of a six-year-old boy, was returning home west on Bloor Street from his job as an engraver at the Toronto Star. It was Larry's day off work but he went in to cover for a sick co-worker. Larry died from his injuries a day later at St. Michael's hospital. James Markland, the passenger, was sentenced to 18 months probation, after arguing he was too drunk to know the car was stolen. Gerard Talbot pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison. To anyone who drinks please don't drive. We'll all be safe from the carelessness of drunk drivers. It's as simple as that. I don't care about your excuses and your apologies when you get behind the wheel of a car and cause an injury or death to another living person or creature. You had a choice. My brother Larry didn't have a choice and is dead. Written by sister, Lucy Kovaliv | ||||||||||
