The criminal charges again the construction company in the Barrie crash that killed six young people have been dropped by the Crown Monday.
Defence lawyer Marie Henein says all six counts of criminal negligence causing death against Condrain Group in the Aug. 28, 2022 crash were withdrawn Monday.
Police have said the victims, all in their early 20s, were heading to a casino north of Toronto around 6 a.m. when their car crashed in a construction site, killing everyone in the vehicle.
Investigators had determined that the crash happened at a municipal construction site on a rural road, where the car plunged into a deep pit nearly 24 hours before police officers came across the scene.
In August 2022, the City of Barrie said that the area is the site of a municipal construction project, and the intersection has been closed since the spring.
Family and friends identified those killed in the crash as Curtis King, 22; River Wells, 23; Jason Ono-O’Connor, 22; Luke West, 22; Jersey Mitchell, 20; and Haley Marin, 21.
In a statement to Global News, the company said, “Condrain has always had confidence in the justice system and that this matter would conclude as it has today. Our thoughts are with the families of those that lost their lives and the Barrie community. We remain committed to the community and moving forward from this heartbreaking tragedy.”
Roy Wagenaar, a resident who lives near the crash site, says he feels for the families of the six victims.
He says following the crash, many in the community were left wondering what happened, noting he and many others had driven on the road where the accident occurred.
“It was so close to home, and you think it could have been anybody’s children, you know, the neighbours, the person across town. So it’s very sad, even like thinking back in the time since it happened,” Wagenaar says.
“When we initially found out about it, it just kind of saddens you as a parent to realize these young lives are snuffed out and really felt for the families.”
With files from the Canadian Press and Global News’ Shallima Maharaj