Emma Czornobaj says prison is not where she belongs

Emma Czornobajis hoping to set the record straight about the 2010 incident that saw her stop her carin the passing lane of a highway to help a group of ducklings,a decision that led tothe deaths of motorcyclist Andre Roy and his 16-year-old daughter Jessie.

In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Czornobaj explained why shes appealing a June verdict that found her guilty on two counts of criminal negligence causing the deaths of the pairwhen theirmotorcycle crashed into the back of Czornobajs stopped car.

Czornobaj, who is now 25, was also found guilty on two counts of dangerous driving causing death and is due to be sentenced Aug.8.

• Your View: What's an appropriate punishment in the duck crash case?
• Emma Czornobaj guilty in 2 highway deaths after stopping for ducks
• Quebec motorist accused in two deaths said she was helping ducks

Criminal negligence causing death carriesa maximum sentence of life in prison while dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum sentenceof 14 years.

"It was just a reaction to what was on the road. Some people, which really hurts me, say she chose between human lives and duck lives and that's not what happened," Czornobaj said.

"I've never had a chance to say I'm sorry and that is what I would like to say," she said.

'Heart was in the right place,'says mother

Czornobajs mother, Mary Hogan, said her "heart breaks"for Roys widow, Pauline Volikakis, who was following her husband and daughter on her own motorcycle at the time of the deadly crash.

"Emmas heart was in the right place,"Hogan said.

Czornobajs lawyer is arguing that she shouldnt serve jail time because there was no criminal intent.

Petition of support

That view is being echoed by a new online petition that is appealing for leniency in Czornobajs sentencing.

"Making her serve jail time and ruining what is left of her future will not undo this terrible accident, it will most certainly compound the ugly cost of this accident. Just having lived through it may be more than enough," the petition reads.

It calls on Quebecs Justice Minister Stephanie Valle and the provinces Director of Criminal Prosecution Claude Lachapelle to keep Czornobaj out of jail.

More than 10,000 people have endorsed the petition so far.

Czornobaj agrees that a prison sentence would not serve justice in hercase.

"It's terrifying for sure. I don't see how it would help. Idon't think it's somewhere I belong,"she said.

"Of course, it was a mistake. But that's it.It was an accident It's hard to accept that people see me as a criminal now. It's not easy that it can't be seen as a mistake,"she said.