Drunk driver pleads guilty, admits he stole mom’s BMWs, killed friend, hurled slurs at first responders

o'er an eight-month geological period Kane Burrows, 19, stole 2 BMWs from his fuss, horde drunk, crashed twice, killed a friend and hurled slurs at first responders who tried to help him, a Calgary judge heard during the offender’s guilty plea Friday.

Burrows pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing injury and dangerous driving in connection with two crashes that took place in December 2024 and August 2025.

On both occasions, Burrows had been drinking and, on both occasions, he was prohibited from driving after his license was suspended because he failed to provide a breath sample to police in October 2024. 

The plea, negotiated by defence lawyer Alain Hepner and prosecutor Greg Piper, took place Friday afternoon before Court of King’s Bench Justice Shane Parker. 

Details of Burrows’s crimes come from an agreed statement of facts (ASF).

The first and fatal crash took place on Dec. 23, 2024. That day, Burrows stole his mother’s BMW convertible and headed to a southwest pub with friends where he drank alcohol. 

Before the crash, witnesses noted Burrows was stunting in the pub’s parking lot, doing doughnuts before pulling out of the lot.

According to the ASF, Burrows drove aggressively; swerving in and out of lanes, and traveling at speeds of up to 160 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on Glenmore Trail.

The frightened passengers asked Burrows to slow down and one suggested he could drive instead. 

At one point, each of the three lanes were occupied by cars and Burrows was unable to pass, so he swerved onto the right-hand shoulder of the road into the path of a large, multi-axle crane truck that had broken down. 

It was 9:47 p.m. When Burrows struck a hook and crane boom and then collided with the back of the truck.

Zachary Legault, 18, was badly injured and died later that night in hospital.

Another passenger who survived suffered a broken rib, broken vertebra, and a fractured sternum.

When first responders arrived on-scene, Burrows “was argumentative and disruptive” and wanted to leave the scene. 

“Burrows swore at them, called them slurs, and threatened them with legal consequences,” reads the ASF. 

After CPS arrived, Burrows “did not express concern or ask about the welfare of Mr. Legault or Mr. Kuqali, focusing rather on arguing with the first responders.”

Ultimately, Burrows had to be sedated by paramedics.

His blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was determined to be .154, nearly twice the legal limit. 

Burrows was charged nearly three months later, on March 21, 2025. He was granted bail on conditions that included a driving and alcohol prohibition.

Then, on Aug. 8, 2025, Burrows once again stole a BMW belonging to his mother. 

Around 2 a.m. That day, police spotted the vehicle travelling 170 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on Macleod Trail. 

When officers attempted a traffic stop, Burrows sped away, hitting a number of parked vehicles along 58th Avenue S.W. At a speed of 124 km/h. 

Burrows was "extracted" at gunpoint by police. 

Officers found open alcohol containers in the car, within reach of the driver’s seat.

Burrows was arrested at the scene and released on bail for a second time but the Crown successfully appealed his release and he was taken back into custody. 

Pre-sentence reports have been ordered and Burrows will be sentenced later this year. 

Justice affairs reporter

Meghan Grant is a justice affairs reporter. She has been covering courts, crime and stories of police accountability in southern Alberta for more than 15 years. Send Meghan a story tip at meghan.grant@cbc.ca.

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