Three years ago, a South Burlington woman was killed in a head-on collision in Addison. The other driver was driving under the influence of drugs and had fallen asleep at the wheel when he crossed over the middle lane.Ian Labounty faced a judge on Tuesday for his final sentencing. The courtroom was filled, both in person and virtually, with people who loved 57-year-old Cecile Druzba.Her husband of nearly 25 years held back tears remembering the calls he made to his children three years ago, telling them their mother had been killed.“Previously I never really knew what a blood-curdling scream sounded like. But now I do,” said Matt Druzba.Cecile died in March 2019, when Labounty struck her car head-on. Cecile was driving with her brother in the passenger seat, and tried to swerve to avoid Labounty.“I sincerely ask that the state of Vermont hold the defendant fully accountable for his crimes and for the killing of Cecile, my wife, and the mother of my three children,” Matt said.The prosecution argued getting behind the wheel of a car is a matter of life and death and driving should be treated with great responsibility.Labounty apologized — for what Matt says was the first time — for his actions on that fateful day.“I’m sorry that I have not been able to express my remorse to you directly and to your whole family. And that for years now I’ve wanted to,” Labounty said. “I want this to never happen again to anybody. I’m very sorry.”Over the past few years, the number of fatal crashes involving impaired drivers in Vermont has been steadily climbing, with 22 in 2019, 31 in 2020, and 40 in 2021 according to the State Highway Safety Office. “We’re trending up again this year. We’re much higher than we were at year at this time already. So fatal crashes seem to be rising in Vermont,” said Mandy White, data section manager at the State Highway Safety Office. The state has programs to combat impaired driving, encouraging people to make the right decisions while they still can.“And to remind people that they have loved ones at home that want them to arrive safely,” White said.“Young people should realize there are some serious consequences,” Matt said.Labounty was sentenced to three to five years in prison, split to serve two, with 10 years probation.Matt says he was hoping for more jail time and would have liked to see court-ordered community service, but ultimately accepted the judge’s ruling. “At the end of the day, we can move forward now. It’s been three months to the day of Cecile’s death and I think justice has been served,” Matt said.Matt said he hopes something good will come from his beloved wife’s death, so no family has to experience the pain his family has felt.
Three years ago, a South Burlington woman was killed in a head-on collision in Addison. The other driver was driving under the influence of drugs and had fallen asleep at the wheel when he crossed over the middle lane.
Ian Labounty faced a judge on Tuesday for his final sentencing. The courtroom was filled, both in person and virtually, with people who loved 57-year-old Cecile Druzba.
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Her husband of nearly 25 years held back tears remembering the calls he made to his children three years ago, telling them their mother had been killed.
“Previously I never really knew what a blood-curdling scream sounded like. But now I do,” said Matt Druzba.
Cecile died in March 2019, when Labounty struck her car head-on. Cecile was driving with her brother in the passenger seat, and tried to swerve to avoid Labounty.
“I sincerely ask that the state of Vermont hold the defendant fully accountable for his crimes and for the killing of Cecile, my wife, and the mother of my three children,” Matt said.
The prosecution argued getting behind the wheel of a car is a matter of life and death and driving should be treated with great responsibility.
Labounty apologized — for what Matt says was the first time — for his actions on that fateful day.
“I’m sorry that I have not been able to express my remorse to you directly and to your whole family. And that for years now I’ve wanted to,” Labounty said. “I want this to never happen again to anybody. I’m very sorry.”
Over the past few years, the number of fatal crashes involving impaired drivers in Vermont has been steadily climbing, with 22 in 2019, 31 in 2020, and 40 in 2021 according to the State Highway Safety Office.
“We’re trending up again this year. We’re much higher than we were at year at this time already. So fatal crashes seem to be rising in Vermont,” said Mandy White, data section manager at the State Highway Safety Office.
The state has programs to combat impaired driving, encouraging people to make the right decisions while they still can.
“And to remind people that they have loved ones at home that want them to arrive safely,” White said.
“Young people should realize there are some serious consequences,” Matt said.
Labounty was sentenced to three to five years in prison, split to serve two, with 10 years probation.
Matt says he was hoping for more jail time and would have liked to see court-ordered community service, but ultimately accepted the judge’s ruling.
“At the end of the day, we can move forward now. It’s been three months to the day of Cecile’s death and I think justice has been served,” Matt said.
Matt said he hopes something good will come from his beloved wife’s death, so no family has to experience the pain his family has felt.
