Watch above: One year ago, two teenagers were killed when the vehicle they were riding in was hit by the driver of a stolen truck. Meaghan Craig sits down with Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill to discuss what changes have been made and his message to drivers to help prevent stolen vehicles.
SASKATOON – One year ago to the day, tragedy unfolded on 22nd Street West in Saskatoon. To mark the occasion a service was held for James Haughey, one of two teens killed in a horrific collision.
“That was probably one of the worst days of my life as a police chief,” said Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill.
“That’s the last thing you want to do is have to meet with the family and discuss such a tragic issue with them. It really was so sad, it was such a senseless happening.”
Flowers have been placed at the intersection of 22nd Street West and Avenue M where James Haughey and Sarah Wensley, both 17, lost their lives.
At the time they were on their way to a track and field practice with a third teen, Kara Mitsuing, who suffered serious injuries but survived when their vehicle was struck and slammed into a building by a stolen truck evading police.
READ MORE: Saskatoon family mourns their only child killed in crash
“I don’t think the general public has learned the lesson yet. We’re still seeing about over 50 per cent of our vehicles are stolen and have the keys, the key fob or token in the vehicle. It makes it so easy for somebody to take the car and a lot of these crimes are a crime of opportunity.”
There have been 1,213 auto thefts in Saskatoon since May 5 of last year. In 2014, there were 61 incidents of reported police pursuits.
“Most of those would end within a minute, minute-and-a-half,” said Weighill
READ MORE: Saskatoon police chases up in 2014
On May 5, 2014, the officer involved activated his emergency equipment in an attempt to stop the stolen truck. However, the two women inside sped off, colliding with two other vehicles.
Additional officers have now been assigned to the stolen auto task force and numerous charges have been laid in the last year.
READ MORE: Saskatoon police crime task force making dent
The culprits, said Weighill, are often young offenders and repeat offenders.
A passenger of the stolen vehicle in this fatal case is a young offender. She received a three-year sentence in December after pleading guilty to five counts. She cannot be named as a young offender and was the same age as the victims at the time of the crash.
Cheyann Peeteetuce, the driver of the stolen truck is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13. She has pleaded guilty to seven charges including two counts of dangerous driving cause death.
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