Oakville motorist impaired by cannabis sentenced to 6.5 years for killing woman and her dog

A 60-year-old man Oakville man who struck and killed a woman and her dog while driving impaired by cannabis was handed a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Tuesday afternoon (March 28), in a Burlington court.

Kevin Hyde, who was convicted of dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving causing death on Nov. 1, 2022, also received a 10-year driving prohibition from Justice Ann-Marie Calsavara.

The prohibition begins when Hyde’s sentence is over.

Hyde killed Oakville’s Louise Whiten, 51, and her dog, Zach, on Dec. 3, 2020 when his red Nissan Sentra veered into them off Lakeshore Rd., near Burgundy Dr.

The 51-year-old mother of two teenage boys and respected speech pathologist who helped children with autism was struck along with her dog as they walked on a dirt path on the shoulder of the south side of the road.

Hyde, who had no previous criminal convictions, stood up in the Burlington courtroom and apologized to Whiten’s family for the pain he has caused.

He did not take responsibility for the death previously in court, blaming a medical episode that he said caused him to lose consciousness.

Hyde’s sentence will be served concurrently on both counts.