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By Victor Kaisar

WolfPack Crash

Man accused of causing fatal TRU crash to be arraigned in January

Dec 21, 2024 | 10:01 AM

KAMLOOPS — The man accused of causing the crash that killed TRU WolfPack athlete Owyn McInnis last year is scheduled to be in court next month for an arraignment hearing.

Colval Abbinett was expected to have his first appearance in Kamloops provincial court on Monday, Dec. 23, though online records show that has been postponed to Thursday, Jan. 16.

An arraignment hearing is one where a person who is accused of a crime pleads guilty or not guilty.

Abbinett, 29, is facing one count each of driving without due care and attention and driving without reasonable consideration under Section 144 of the Motor Vehicle Act. If convicted, he could face a maximum fine of $2,000, and be banned from driving or face a number of restrictions.

Abinett, who is not in custody, is alleged to have been behind the wheel of a black Dodge Ram pickup that slammed into a Volkswagen Jetta on Nov. 29, 2023, killing Owyn McInnis and seriously injuring Owen Waterhouse and Riley Brinnen.

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Kamloops RCMP previously said that Abbinett’s truck hit also several small trees in the area of McGill Road and University Drive, near the TRU East Gate before it struck the Volkswagen and caused secondary crashes with four other vehicles.

Three of the seven people taken to hospital after the crash were in a critical condition, while four others were treated by paramedics at the scene.

Police also said last month that Abbinett was not impaired by drugs or alcohol and remained at the scene of the crash.

The Brinnen, McInnis and Waterhouse families are all calling for an independent review of the charges, after the BC Prosecution Service said a “senior-level review” found that criminal charges “would not supported by the available evidence.”

“We were advised that the regional crown, who is Jessica Patterson, was involved in the original charge assessment,” Chris Brinnen, a former RCMP officer and father of Riley Brinnen told CFJC Today. “We really challenge the integrity of the BC Prosecution Service as the person who did the review is the same person who is part of the original charge assessment.”

The families also say that Kamloops RCMP investigators forwarded three criminal charges for consideration, before the Crown decided to proceed with charges under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Kamloops RCMP declined to provide any further information on the file as it is currently before the courts, though they have said

“There is a court date that’s scheduled…and hopefully some more of the related details and questions that the public may have will be answered through that process,” Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn told CFJC Today in November.

“The detachment remains committed to working with the families of the victims involved going forward.”