'Heartbreak, fear and loss': Regina man gets prison time for drunk driving crash that killed young father

The widow of a drunk driving victim told the man behind the wheelthat she wants "the day Tanner BrentKaufmann'slife was stolen by your preventable act to be forever burned into your mind as the day many lives were stolen."

On Tuesday, Colby NicholasHeid, 20, pleaded guilty to driving over .08 in a Regina courtroom.A judge then accepted the joint submission and sentenced Heid tothree years at a federal prison. He was also handed a five-year driving prohibition.

On Sept. 4, 2016,Heidhit 37-year-oldKaufmannon a rural road north of Regina.Kaufmannwas killed, as was his puppy,Macy.

• 'It's just not fair': Regina father of 2 killed by alleged drunk driver
• Funeral for father killed by alleged drunk driver encourages everyone to get home safe

At the hearing, the Crown went over the evidence which includedHeidtelling police he had over 25 drinks that day. Heid'sblood test which was done three hours after the crash showed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.293.

Evidence also showedKaufmannwas hit at 80 kilometres per hour andHeiddid not apply the brakes.

The first person on scene saidHeidwas "considerably intoxicated" and a paramedic told hospital staff he was hitting on them.

The defence addressed the courtroom, saying Heid hastaken responsibility for his actionsand hasabstainedfrom alcohol and drugs. He hadalso been working full-time and gone throughcounseling.

"Everyday I think about the great man I unfairly took away," Heid told the court.

Kaufmann'swife,Alyscia,and 13 other friends and family submitted their victim impact statements in court duringTuesday'ssentencing.

In her own words

"Although, you [Heid] have been the cause of our sadness and pain, I stillhope that you never experience such loss.It is a loss one never truly recovers from,"Alysciasaid in her statement, which she shared with CBC News.

"I want you to leave here today and remember that these people, and especially our twolittle boys, are no longer the people they were."

Tanner left behind a seven-year-old and five-year-oldson.

Alysciasaid the boys have difficultysleeping, among facing the other challenges of suddenly losing their father,friend, mentor, coach and playmate.

"It is not fair that our boys must endure such heartbreak, fear and loss," she said.

She also described the pain of being a widow.

"Itfeels like a piece of yourself is missing.You do not feel whole.You feel a pull in your soul reaching to touch and be with your other half. It is a pain in your heart and in your chestthat will not go away. It is the sensation of swallowing swords."

In closing, she shared her thoughts of whatHeidshould do going forward.

"I want you to think about how you are going to tell your future wife and children that you have killed a husband and a father," she said.

"You will leave jail a young man. You have the choice to become a good person who makes right decisions.I hope you take this opportunity."