BC Conservatives want ‘judge and jury’ to weigh in on fatal TRU crash

The truck was being driven by Colval Abbinett, 29, who has been charged under the Motor Vehicle Act with one count of driving without due care and attention and one count of driving without reasonable consideration for others using the highway.

If convicted, Abbinett could face a maximum fine of $2,000. He could also be banned from driving or face a number of restrictions.

“The McInnis family has a very reasonable request; have a judge and jury determine if the driver is guilty of criminal actions in an open court,” Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar said, in the news release.

“His innocence or guilt should not be pre-determined behind closed doors.”

“Considering the amount of evidence produced in this case by the RCMP, common sense would suggest that, at a minimum, criminal charges should have been supported and the accused made to sit in front of a judge and jury,” Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer added.

“For crown prosecutors to say they require a higher standard in a case such as this is, frankly, insulting to the victims and their families who deserve more from both our legislators and justice system.”

Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn told CFJC Today that Abbinett – who is due to make a court appearance on Dec. 23 – was not impaired by drugs or alcohol and remained at the scene of the crash.

“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,” Evelyn said.

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

Friends and family of the affected WolfPack athletes told CFJC Today they hope to see criminal charges laid. They’re also circulating a letter for people to sign in a bid to get BC Attorney General Niki Sharma to “comprehensively” review the case.

In the form letter, they claim there is evidence that Abbinet was driving “at a high rate of speed, more than double the posted speed limit of 50 km/hr” at the time of the crash.

Those claims have not been confirmed by Kamloops RCMP or the BC Prosecution Service.

“Everyone had the assumption that there would some criminal charges, that there would be some attempt at justice at least, and then it was just heartbreaking,” former WolfPack athlete, Dylan Van Spankeren – who was roommates with McInnis, said.

Saying he was in a state of “straight disbelief” on Monday when the charges were announced, Van Spankeren said the WolfPack community wants “a better form of justice” for their former teammates.

“All we’re trying to do is to get the public aware and get them talking and try to catch the eye of officials who may some power to get things looked at again,” he said. “Everyone I’ve talked to or those who have heard about the story, when they hear there were no criminal charges, they’re shocked.”

BC Conservatives take aim at no-fault insurance

The newly minted Official Opposition in B.C. also want Premier David Eby to change the no fault insurance policy at ICBC and to make “amendments to the justice system to ensure that victims are prioritized over perpetrators.”

“Reckless, inattentive driving that causes a fatality and serious injuries must carry serious consequences.” Brent Chapman, the BC Conservative Critic for Transit & ICBC, said, in the news release.

Chapman says no fault insurance places limited responsibility on both the insurer and the offender, while shifting an overwhelming burden onto victims.

by Victor Kaisar

BC Conservatives want ‘judge and jury’ to weigh in on fatal TRU crash

BC Conservatives take aim at no-fault insurance

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