Edmonton man admits he deliberately caused horrific crash
Steven Cloutier lost control when the prepay gas pump didn't work
On a sunny day last November, a man who described himself as "a robot," who told police he had no conscience and no feelings, finally reached his breaking point.
He used his truck as a weapon, and changed four lives forever.
On Monday, Steven Cloutier pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, mischief over $5,000 and assault with a weapon (his truck).
Cloutier later told police he had decided to "get out" of Edmonton on Nov. 18, 2015. First he had to fill the gas tank of his Ford F-150 truck.
Shortly before noon, he pulled into the PetroCanada gas station at 9650 118th Avenue. It was a prepay pump, and Cloutier went inside the gas station convenience store and handed his driver's licence to the clerk.
He thought that was all that was needed to buy gas. The clerk didn't notice at the time that he failed to hand over a credit card, and told Cloutier to fill up his truck.
When the prepay pump didn't work, the clerk told him over the intercom he had to pay first.
Cloutier got upset.
According to an agreed statement of facts entered in provincial court, he went back inside the store and "slammed his fist on the counter," yelled at the clerk and demanded his driver's licence back.
She backed away in fear. Cloutier, 39, stormed out of the store, shoving the door so hard it slammed into a garbage can just outside the entrance.
Employee Joseph Loutitt was worried, so he locked the door once Cloutier was outside.
'He's coming back!'
Cloutier got into his truck and drove off. Less than a minute later, "he made a sharp left turn, cutting across 97th Street and at least three designated lanes and drove directly towards the PetroCanada convenience store."
Horrified staff members watched the truck drive towards them. One clerk yelled, "get away from the door, he's coming back!" But there was no time to react.
Cloutier was driving at least 47 km/h at the time of the crash. He never touched his brakes. The truck smashed through the plate glass and plowed into the store.
Clerk Yeon Kim, 48, was pinned under the truck. Her left leg was so badly broken, doctors thought at one point they'd have to amputate. She suffered a shattered pelvis, a broken right leg, a broken jaw and kidney damage. Doctors aren't sure she'll ever be able to work again.
The crash trapped Loutitt, 41, between the truck and the rubble. Both his legs and one kneecap were broken, along with his left shoulder blade. He was in court Monday to watch Cloutier plead guilty. He told CBC News he was in a wheelchair until April and now walks with a cane. Doctors aren't sure Loutitt will ever return to full-time employment.
Two other female workers narrowly missed being hit by the truck, but were injured by flying glass and rubble. Both are still receiving counselling.
Cloutier was unhurt. Seconds after impact, he got out of the truck, left the engine running, the gear shift still in drive. He walked up to one female employee, punched her in the face.
"How do you like that?" he said. Then he walked away.
A passerby climbed into the cab of the truck and slowly backed it up to free the trapped pair.
No remorse
Cloutier surrendered to police when they arrived and after his arrest provided a chilling rationale for the crash.
"I messed up. I think personally I'm dangerous to society," he said. "I am at my breaking point with everything and I should be here or a mental hospital. I don't know how to change myself, the way I am, because this is the way I survived. I am past the breaking point. There is no good of me left in my heart."
Staff members inside that store deserved what they got.- Steven Cloutier
He showed no remorse for his victims.
"In my opinion, the staff members inside that store deserved what they got. I hope no customers got hurt."
When the officer asked what he thought would happen when he crashed the truck into the store, Cloutier replied: "I just told you, I have no conscience anymore. It's all gone. You might as well be talking to a robot. No feelings."
Cloutier was originally charged with four counts of attempted murder, but those charges were dropped in the plea deal reached Monday.
Judge Mike Allen accepted the guilty pleas and ordered a pre-sentence report and psychiatric assessment.
Cloutier will remain in custody and return to court Nov. 28 for sentencing.
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