Drunk driver who killed best friend in high-speed crash gets 5-year sentence
Kane Burrows, 20, killed his friend in an August 2025 crash after stealing his mother's BMW and driving more than twice the speed limit.
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A teenaged drunk driver who killed his best friend in a high-speed crash was handed a 5-year sentence Thursday.
Kane Burrows was sentenced for two separate drunk driving crashes that occurred over an eight-month period in December 2024 and August 2025. On both occasions, Burrows stole BMWs from his mother and drove drunk, hitting speeds of more than twice the posted limit in 80 km/h zones.
Court heard that Burrows suffered severe alcoholism and has been sober since November 2025. His defence lawyer Alain Hepner told the judge, "Alcohol was his demon."
Burrows is entitled to one year credit for time already served. Judge Parker sentenced the 20-year-old Thursday afternoon after hearing submissions from Hepner, who asked for a four-year sentence, and prosecutors Greg Piper and Kay DeBoer, who argued for five-and-a-half years.
In November 2025, three months after the second crash, Burrows called a residential addictions treatment facility and checked himself into a 70-day program at Prairie Wellness, located just outside Crossfield. Owner Janice Demers testified that Burrows was very engaged in programming and "full of a lot of remorse."
When given the chance to address the court, Burrows apologized to his victims' families and said he hopes to counsel other young people on the dangers of drinking and driving. "I'm responsible, I did it and I regret every moment of that evening," he said.
Court also heard that after the fatal crash, Burrows took flowers to his victim's mother, who invited him inside her home and encouraged him to seek help for his alcoholism. A pre-sentence report noted Burrows began drinking at age 13 and became so addicted he would wake up in the middle of the night and take shots.
