Dinorwic Man Sentenced to 22 Months

A joint submission has been accepted and a 26-year-old Dinorwic
man has been sentenced to 22-months in jail in relation to a fatal single
vehicle crash on Highway 17 near Thunder Lake Road 2-years ago.
Dennis Zoccole was found criminally negligent in the death of his
lifelong friend Leslie Ann Gardner in Kenora Court.
Court heard that police arrived on scene to find Zoccole behind the
wheel and Gardner’s body partially ejected from the open passenger door.
A police investigation found that Gardner’s seat belt was too loose and
the door may have been dislodged prior to the collision.
During the trial, several witnesses reported Zoccole’s car driving
recklessly and at a high rate of speed.
In a Crown submission, it was also reported that he had a “relatively”
high level of blood alcohol.
However, charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and
impaired driving causing death were withdrawn.