Punishment won't fit crime, says father of brain-injured man hurt in drunk driving accident

The father of a teenage boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being knocked down by an impaired driver more than a year ago doesn't think the punishment will fit the crime.

Brian Duffenais's son Colby, now 21, was struck byan all terrain vehicle in the early morning hours of December 26, 2015.

He and afriend were walking home from a party on the main road inPiccadillyat 3 a.m. when the ATV came from behind and struck Colby, throwing him 200 feet.

The 16-year-old driver was charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and pleaded guilty.

Sentencing is set for Monday but Duffenaissaid that won't be the end for his family.

"I'll never have any grandchildren from Colby," he told CBC News.

"The chances are he will never get married. He will have a quality of life. He will have us. But not the quality of life that he usedto have. The young feller, he can go on with his life. He can get married. He can have kids. He can go to school. He can do something with his life."

Hardly recognized his son

After the accident, Colby Duffenais was taken to hospital in Stephenville and later transferred to St. John's, where he had surgery.

His father saidhe didn't even recognize his son at the hospital. If it wasn'tfor their matching tattoos, he wouldn't have known it was him.

Colby spent a long time at the Health Science Centre in St. John's, until doctors said therewas little progressand no point for rehabilitation. He was transferred to the Sir Thomas RoddickHospital in Stephenville, where his father and grandmother visit daily.

"He can't eat, he can't walk. He can move his head back and forth. He can vocalize a little bit. He makes sounds. He can recognize us, you can tell," said Duffenais.

Not an accident

He isn't expecting the court to come down hard on the ATV driver when sentencing is handed down 3 p.m. Monday.

"I don't think he is going to get much. He might get two years' probation, some community service. I really don't think the punishment is going to fit the crime," said Duffenais.

Young life changed forever because of drunk driving crash in Newfoundland

8 years ago

Duration 2:04

CBC's Colleen Connors reports on a teenage boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being knocked down by an impaired driver more than a year ago

The father fidgets in his seat. His face turns red. He doesn't consider what happened to his son to be an accident.

CBC asked the accused and his parents for a comment, but no one responded as of Friday.

I'll take my son any way I can.- Brian Duffenais

Duffenais plans on bringing Colby home. The family will have full time support staff to help him eat, bathe and get in and out of his wheelchair.

His apartment, which will be attached to his grandmother's home, should be ready in March.

"I'll take my son any way I can," said Duffenais.