Parents of Kamloops crash victims say no criminal charges laid

The parents of the victims involved in a fatal crash last year in Kamloops are devastated to learn that the driver responsible is not being criminally charged.

Three Thompson Rivers University student-athletes were driving outside the campus when another vehicle slammed into their car in November 2023, killing one and critically injuring two more.

The incident left Chris Brinnen’s son with a spinal injury, and he explains the parents of all three students were told last Monday that the driver would only face charges under the Motor Vehicle Act, not the Criminal Code of Canada.

“The information we got that day and what we know about the [incident], it’s a really tough pill to swallow that this didn’t go criminal,” Brinnen told 1130 NewsRadio.

At the time of the incident, the Kamloops RCMP said emergency crews were called to the area of McGill Road and University Drive for reports that a “Dodge Ram truck had collided with several small trees before striking a Volkswagen that was stopped at a red light.”

According to the RCMP, the three victims inside the Volkswagen were taken to the hospital, though one succumbed to their injuries. Two people in a Jeep were also taken to the hospital with what the RCMP described at the time as non-life-threatening injuries.

Brinnen says he and the other victim’s parents were stunned when they were told the driver’s behaviour didn’t meet the criminal threshold.

“We really struggle with it — [the driver was going] double the speed, driving on the sidewalk, taking out trees, and the fact that he created so much carnage because of his driving behavior,” Brinnen shared.

“That doesn’t fall into the marked departure of how you and I would typically drive on a day like that. It’s really hard to wrap our heads around.”

Brinnen says the families have written to provincial ministries to have the case reassessed.

“We recently sent a letter directly to the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, and the Assistant Attorney General, who all have the ability to request that this file get reviewed,” he explained.