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By Dylana Kneeshaw

CRASH INVESTIGATION

Emotions running high for TRU athletics community after charge announcement in deadly 2023 crash

Nov 26, 2024 | 5:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP confirmed this week that criminal charges will not be laid against the driver behind the wheel of the truck that caused a deadly collision near the university last year.

The driver of a truck that caused the 2023 crash that killed a university athlete and seriously injured two others has been charged with driving without due care and attention and driving without reasonable consideration for others using the highway.

On November 29 last year, three men’s volleyball players had been sitting in a Volkswagen Jetta at a red light near McGill Road and University Drive when a Dodge Ram pick-up truck crashed into their car. Riley Brinnen and Owen Waterhouse were left with life-altering injuries, while Owyn McInnis lost his life.

TRU WolfPack Athletics Director Curtis Atkinson says the driver’s charge announcement has added to an already emotional week, with the anniversary of the crash coming up this Friday (Nov. 29).

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“Regardless of what that news would have been, we knew that it would likely trigger some emotion.” Atkinson tells CFJC. “We didn’t know when it was going to come out, but learning about it [Monday], a decision made by a body external to us, it’s something that we can’t control. Our focus has always been and will continue to be supporting our people here. Supporting Riley (Brinnen), supporting Owen (Waterhouse) and obviously honouring the legacy of Owyn (McInnis) as well.”

Athlete support has been coming from the university in the form of counselling.

“We did have some time [Monday] from men’s volleyball with the counsellor and again, just making sure that they understand there is the space and the opportunity to seek those supports and to grieve together or individually,” notes Atkinson. “We’ll do that with some additional teams [Tuesday] as well.”

According to Kamloops RCMP, the investigative work was extensive, and all available evidence was pursued to present a complete charge recommendation package.

“The driver of the truck remained at the scene and police investigators with specialty training in assessing driver impairment established the driver was not impaired by drug or alcohol,” notes Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn.

The BC Prosecution Service reviewed the report to Crown Counsel and determined that the evidence supported a charge under the Motor Vehicle Act — not the Criminal Code.

“There is a court date that’s scheduled in relation to that, as well, and hopefully some more of the related details and questions that the public may have will be answered through that process,” says Evelyn, adding, “The detachment remains committed to working with the families of the victims involved going forward.”

The driver, 29-year-old Colval Abbinett, is set to make an appearance at the Kamloops Law Courts on December 23.