2 dead & 6 injured as teens take after hours sled ride down Winsport bobsleigh track - Page 24 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

heep223 · 03-07-2016, 03:58 PM

The following is a release from CPS today. Note that alcohol was not determined to be a factor.

Quote:

WinSport Investigation Concludes.
We have concluded our investigation into the double fatality on the WinSport sliding track and can confirm no charges will be laid in connection with this incident.

Investigators with the Centralized General Investigations Section have been able to interview the victims and after a thorough review of the scene, have confirmed the following details.At approximately 1:10 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, eight teens aged 16 to 19 parked their vehicles on Paskapoo Drive S.W., and climbed over a seven foot, locked fence at Canada Olympic Park. The teens were carrying three plastic sleds.The teens immediately went to the start of the bobsleigh track. A group of three teens, including Evan Caldwell, climbed aboard one sled and started down the track. Caldwell was sitting in the rear of the sled.At turn number five, where the bobsleigh and luge tracks merge, a large barrier/gate was configured to allow the luge track to be open and the bobsleigh track to be blocked. This barrier/gate is approximately two feet in height and 60 feet in length, with a thick metal chain and come-along bar holding the structure in place. The group on the first sled passed under the chain, however, struck the barrier/gate, pushing it towards the centre of the track. The teens fell from the sled, with two of the injured teens sliding further down the track. The second group of three teens, unaware of what had occurred, launched from the top of the bobsleigh track, also on a plastic sled. As they entered turn five, they fleetingly saw the chain as they passed underneath it. It was at this point they struck one of the already injured teens who was laying on the track, throwing all from their sled. One of the teens was able to jump off the track and attempted to run back up to the starting point to warn his remaining two friends, however, they had already started down. The third sled had two passengers, including Jordan Caldwell, who was sitting at the front of the sled. As the sled approached the collision scene, Jordan Caldwell struck the chain. Both teens came to rest near the other injured parties. One of the teens used a cell phone to call 911 for help.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death for both Evan and Jordan Caldwell to be multiple blunt force trauma. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a contributing factor in this incident. The teens who were seriously injured in the incident have since been released from hospital, however, at least one will have life-altering injuries as a result of the incident.

After interviewing all parties involved and a thorough investigation into the factors, due to the specific circumstances of the incident charges will not be laid.

No further details will be released and police will not be speaking to this matter as it has been deemed not to be a criminal incident. We would like to thank WinSport's Canada Olympic Park for their assistance in this investigation.

GoinAllTheWay · 03-07-2016, 04:27 PM

Well good.

But that doesn't stop the families from suing, correct?

Resolute 14 · 03-07-2016, 04:33 PM

No. Civil matters are separate from criminal.

Galakanokis · 03-07-2016, 05:03 PM

What are the chances that the two brothers died on separate sleds? Damn that's some bad luck there. I had assumed all along that they were at the front of the sled together.

Nage Waza · 03-07-2016, 05:45 PM

The fact they climbed a seven foot tall fence could be a very important fact for the park

getbak · 03-07-2016, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

What are the chances that the two brothers died on separate sleds? Damn that's some bad luck there. I had assumed all along that they were at the front of the sled together.

Yeah, this didn't happen the way I had assumed. I figured they were both at the front and the people behind all crashed into them, making the initial collision even worse.

taco.vidal · 03-07-2016, 06:02 PM

Im surprised there are no charges. I see the sympathetic or compassionate angle but people often get injured or killed when committing crimes.
White kids from middle class families? This could be a different outcome if it was colored kids from the north east.

llwhiteoutll · 03-07-2016, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Im surprised there are no charges. I see the sympathetic or compassionate angle but people often get injured or killed when committing crimes.
White kids from middle class families? This could be a different outcome if it was colored kids from the north east.

The punishment for a first offense of Petty Trespass is a fine of $2,000.

Where is the benefit to the public in charging the six remaining people for what will amount to an insignificant slap on the wrist?

Cole436 · 03-07-2016, 06:27 PM

Christ, that description is stomach turning.

chemgear · 03-07-2016, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

But that doesn't stop the families from suing, correct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Im surprised there are no charges. I see the sympathetic or compassionate angle but people often get injured or killed when committing crimes.
White kids from middle class families? This could be a different outcome if it was colored kids from the north east.

If anything, the fact that they were not charged would only increase the chance they try to sue perhaps? Not saying that they would or want to, but everything else being equal . . .

CroFlames · 03-07-2016, 06:41 PM

What could they possibly sue for? It was after hours and the park was locked. How can the park be held accountable in any way, shape or form?

chemgear · 03-07-2016, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroFlames

What could they possibly sue for? It was after hours and the park was locked. How can the park be held accountable in any way, shape or form?

There is a whole bunch of discussion about that earlier in this thread. Conjecture of course, but it's back there if you are interested. Again, not saying that they're going to or that they want to.

blueski · 03-07-2016, 07:03 PM

I think the report correctly identified each of these kids as victims. The publicity around this should be enough of a deterrent that no one ever makes this mistake again. Do we really need to debate the need for charging them? What benefit would it provide?

taco.vidal · 03-07-2016, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a contributing factor in this incident.

Thats an odd statement from the police. It doesnt say " No drugs or alcohol involved."

Street Pharmacist · 03-07-2016, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Thats an odd statement from the police. It doesnt say " No drugs or alcohol involved."

I think that's the standard way they say it

ken0042 · 03-07-2016, 08:11 PM

I can't see how charging them with trespassing benefits anybody. If the charges stick- COP gets crucified in the media. If a court throws out the charges, that opens the door for the parents to sue; as it shows another court found there wasn't reason the charge the kids.

jayswin · 03-07-2016, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Thats an odd statement from the police. It doesnt say " No drugs or alcohol involved."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think that's the standard way they say it

I don't think so. I believe that's something police say when small amounts of alcohol were consumed but we're found to not be a factor in the accident/incident. I've seen that before for accidents where they say alcohol was involved but not a contributing factor, basically saying the person had a beer or two and was discarded as relevant to the investigation.

takinghits · 03-07-2016, 08:32 PM

I can't fathom how any parent can claim COP was negligent. The suing business should remain an american thing.

chemgear · 03-07-2016, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I can't see how charging them with trespassing benefits anybody. If the charges stick- COP gets crucified in the media. If a court throws out the charges, that opens the door for the parents to sue; as it shows another court found there wasn't reason the charge the kids.

I don't think it would be a matter of COP trying to "press charges". Isn't that a US versus Canada thing. Doesn't the crown make the determination on their own?

llwhiteoutll · 03-07-2016, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemgear

I don't think it would be a matter of COP trying to "press charges". Isn't that a US versus Canada thing. Doesn't the crown make the determination on their own?

An organization or individual can bring forward charges to a JP, which are then presented to a judge.

But yes, it's the Crown that says go or no go.