EDMONTON – There was no safety plan at a charity fundraiser where a woman was killed by a Jeep that rolled during a stunt.
A fatality inquiry is looking into the May 2013 death of Melinda Green in an Edmonton shopping centre parking lot.
The 20-year-old was watching drivers take part in a stacking demonstration when she was struck by one of the Jeeps as it fell on its side.
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Devin Smith, former president of a Jeep enthusiasts club, told the inquiry there was no formal safety plan and he could not recall if the organizers had insurance coverage.
Edmonton official David Aitken said the city does not require permits for such events held on private property.
He said it would be more effective if the provincial government brought in regulations.
“Too many rules, too many regulations force people underground or to other municipalities,” Aitken testified Thursday. A provincial approach would be best “so that all Albertans have a sense of security,” he said.
Green’s mother, Mira Green, held a photo of her smiling daughter in her hands as her husband, John, took notes, occasionally questioning witnesses.
Green’s parents said the lack of safety planning at the Jeep event left them shaking their heads.
John wants stricter city bylaws for public events held on private property.
“It was a charity event so we don’t want to get in the way of those good things happening,” he said, “but safety has to be considered in planning the events. Pretty clearly there was quite a lack of safety planning.”
“Priority of safety didn’t seem to be there,” added Melinda’s mother Mira.
The couple is hoping the city and province beef up their laws to force event planners to have safety plans and do proper risk assessments.
Wiping away tears during her closing statements to the court, Mira said what they lost that day was inexplicable and irreplaceable.
“We know there’s just a lot of question marks we have to live with,” John said. “As parents living with the loss of a child, that’s the hardest part.”
No charges were laid in Green’s death.
In September, the man who drove the Jeep that hit and killed Green testified that the vehicle jumped forward when he turned the key in the ignition instead of rolling back.
READ MORE: Organizer of Edmonton Jeep event says stunt that led to woman’s death was not planned
Craig Supernault was taking part in a demonstration where one Jeep climbs up the front wheel of another to display the flexibility of its suspension.
Supernault said he’d been asked to perform the demonstration by one of the event’s organizers.
Smith said club members agreed to do the demonstration at the request of a CTV News crew.
A CTV cameraman told the inquiry in September that he didn’t ask for the demo, but mentioned that he’d film it if it took place.
READ MORE: Jeep show organizers speak about tragic incident
One of the organizers of the Jeeps Go Topless show previously testified that they were careful to keep the crowd at a safe distance as the Jeeps got into position.
Spectators were allowed to approach once one Jeep was atop the other with the engine off and the emergency brake engaged.
Fatality inquiries investigate the circumstances of deaths and can make recommendations to avoid similar ones, but they do not lay blame.
With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News
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