Daniel Spalding, a survivor of the deadly bobsled accident at Canada Olympic Park in February of 2016, testified Wednesday at a fatality inquiry in hopes of preventing a similar incident from happening again.
“For us, what might have made the biggest difference was if there was a mention of some big fine or something,” Spalding told reporters shortly after testifying at the inquiry into the deaths of twin brothers Evan and Jordan Caldwell.
“If there was a sign just saying, ‘If you are caught trespassing there will be a fine of like $2,000,’ or something like that, then I think that may have made us reconsider,” he testified.
Spalding also suggested there be a sign warning against possible injury or even death on the bobsled track, saying that he and his friends “would have at least checked the hill to make sure there was nothing on it before sledding down.”
He said that he doesn’t blame the park for what happened and he takes full responsibility for his actions that night.
“We knew we were trespassing,” Spalding said. “I don’t think it’s their fault that we did what we did.
“We want to prevent people in the future from getting hurt.”
Spalding told the inquiry that he and his seven friends, including the Caldwell’s, didn’t suspect anything dangerous along the Olympic run on the night of Feb. 6, 2016, because a few of them had been there only days before bobsledding down the track.
What the boys didn’t know was that the park staff had locked a barricade in place on the run with a tight chain pulled across the track in order to hold it in place.
The Caldwell brothers, 17, were killed when they crashed into the barricade.
“It just kind of makes you not take any days for granted,” Spalding said to reporters. “You kind of realize how lucky you are to be alive.
“It’s the biggest regret of my life.”
The hearing will continue Thursday as the inquiry tries to determine what steps could be taken to prevent any future fatal incidents.
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