Markham Driver Receives Two-Year Sentence for Fatal Red Light Violation
A Markham, Ontario woman has been sentenced to two years in prison for a dangerous driving incident that resulted in the death of a 75-year-old woman three years ago. The court found Joanne Chan guilty of dangerous driving causing death after she ran a red light at high speed, leading to a tragic collision.
Details of the Fatal January 2023 Incident
On January 14, 2023, shortly before 2:30 p.m., Jason Malik was driving his 75-year-old mother, Zarina Malik, home from the hospital. According to Justice Jocelyn Speyer's decision, "their routine drive became a tragedy" when Chan's vehicle ran a red light and collided with the Malik vehicle at the intersection of Bur Oak Drive and McCowan Road.
The roads were bare and dry that clear, cold, sunny day. As the Malik vehicle crossed the southbound lanes of McCowan Road with a green light, Chan's vehicle struck it on the passenger side at approximately 80 kilometres per hour. The speed limit in that area was 60 km/h.
Zarina Malik died from injuries sustained in the collision, while her son Jason was also injured in the crash.
Court Findings and Aggressive Driving Evidence
Justice Speyer's January 29 decision revealed that traffic lights were operating properly that day, and Chan's light had shown amber or red for at least 14 seconds before the collision. Despite this, Chan did not apply her brakes, slow down, or make any steering adjustments as she approached the intersection.
Dash cam footage from the three minutes before the crash showed Chan driving aggressively, including:
- Passing other vehicles using both left and right lanes
- Making lane changes that triggered her vehicle's proximity warning beeper
- Stopping so close to another vehicle at an intersection that her proximity warning sounded
- Audibly accelerating her engine while passing a van
Sentencing and Driving Prohibition
Following her conviction by an Ontario Superior Court of Justice jury, Chan received a two-year jail sentence along with a 15-year driving ban in Canada. The sentence reflects the serious consequences of dangerous driving behavior that results in loss of life.
Justice Speyer emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, noting that basic traffic safety measures could have averted the fatal outcome. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the responsibility all drivers bear when operating vehicles on public roads.
