Survivor of fatal crash previously sentenced for drunk driving

Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove personal information about the driver, and to specify that her condition at the time of the accident is unknown.

The driver who survived Wednesday morning's fatal car crash in east Ottawa has a history with law enforcement and was previously sentenced to jail for drunk driving, CBC News has learned.

Shallen Mckay is the sole survivor of the horrific collision at the corner of Montreal Road and St. Laurent Boulevard that killed two men and left their vehicle and hers in flames.

Police say speed and alcohol are both factors being investigated and early indications suggest one vehicle went through a red light, however no charges have been laid. Neither Mckay's nor the other driver's condition at the time of the collision is known.

• 2 dead after fiery overnight collision east of Ottawa's core

Ashley Leonard Shaver, who is Mckay's cousin-in-law, said Mckay's condition remains extremely serious.

"The last information I received is that she was being brought in for surgery and that there were no guarantees of her coming out of it at this point," Shaver said.

According to Shaver, Mckay has multiple broken bones and internal injuries, and as of Thursday was in a coma.

Ottawa police, who have not named Mckay, then said Friday morning the injuries of the survivor were no longer considered life-threatening.

Court records show Mckay has a 2018 conviction for operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. According to court documents, her blood alcohol concentration exceeded Ontario's legal limit of 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

She was also charged with assaulting two police officers on that same day five years ago.

Mckay was sentenced to 30 days intermittent in jail and to probation, as well as a 12-month driving prohibition. That means she would serve her jail time in chunks, rather than all at once.

Mckay faces other charges that remain before the courts. In December 2021, she was charged with mischief, uttering threats and assaulting another person with a dinner plate.

Weeks later, in January 2022, she was charged with breaching bail conditions and assaulting the same victim, as well as two other people, and with damaging a phone at an Ottawa police cell block. None of these allegations has been proven.

Police have confirmed that a woman in her 30s was driving northbound on St. Laurent when she collided with another vehicle heading west on Montreal Road. Insp. Scott Pettis said early indications suggest the northbound vehicle went through a red light.

Two men, aged 41 and 44, died at the scene while a woman was sent to hospital in life-threatening condition, police said.

Shaver said the investigation should be left to the police.

"The whole family is devastated by the whole scenario. I don't believe any of this should have happened," Shaver said.

"There's no words. We're praying for the lost souls and their families."