A Stouffville woman convicted of impaired driving causing death and bodily harm in a Nov. 2024 crash that killed a Markham man, has been sentenced. Convicted drunk driver Carolyn Nielsen, 43, is heading to prison for four years and 10 months for having more than three times the legal limit of alcohol in her blood when she crashed head-on into another car in along Highway 7 in Markham, killing 68-year-old Lloyd Szeto and injuring his wife. The Newmarket judge accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence, who told the court as part of an Agreed Statement of Facts during the guilty plea proceedings in June, that Nielsen had no memory of the crash or moments leading up to it. Nielsen, the Crown told the court, reached a top speed of 123 km/h in a 60 zone on her way home when her SUV crossed the centre line and hit the Toyota Matrix driven by Szeto, launching it about 50 feet. Szeto’s wife was airlifted to hospital in Toronto with a broken jaw, sternum, and ribs. His family delivered victim impact statements during her sentencing hearing in late-August, describing the overwhelming grief from losing the head of their family, a dedicated husband, father, and hardworking provider. Nielsen was found conscious and still in her vehicle that night; police said her speech was slurred and she had an odour of alcohol on her breath. Her lawyer, Fred Fedorsen, said Nielsen is a mother of two who has a daily reminder of what she has done including a leg injury, requiring the use of crutches. On the night of the crash, which happened at about 7:30, York Regional police seized an empty 20mL liquor bottle, a 3/4 empty bottle of vodka and an unopened 750 mL bottle that Nielsen had ordered about and hour-and-a-half earlier in Kitchener using the name Mary Harris. During her sentencing hearing Nielsen apologized to Szeto’s family and the court. “No words could ever express how sorry I feel for causing so much pain,” adding “I am sorry that I took someone that was so beloved by you because of my actions…I do not expect any forgiveness, but I just wanted you to know how sorry I am.” Nielsen, who had been out on bail since Dec. 2024, following a bail review, stepped into custody in the courthouse. Her lawyer asked that she received medical treatment. Upon her release from custody, Nielsen will be banned from driving for eight years and three more months.
