Charges dropped against construction company in Barrie, Ont. crash that killed 6 young adults
Charges against the company accused of criminal negligence in connection with an August 2022 collision that claimed the lives of six young adults in Barrie have been dropped.
On Monday, the Crown withdrew all charges against Condrain Group, citing there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction.
Condrain Group was charged with six counts of criminal negligence causing death after Barrie police accused the company of failing to properly secure the construction site along McKay Road after a car plunged into a deep concrete pit, killing its occupants - Curtis King, 22; River Wells, 23; Jason Ono-O'Connor, 22; Luke West, 22; Jersey Mitchell, 20; and Haley Marin, 21.
It's believed the group was on their way to a casino in Innisfil, south of Barrie, when the car they travelled in crashed into the massive hole in the centre of the closed road between Veterans Drive and County Road 27.
Police would come across the crash scene nearly 20 hours later.
- Download the CTV News app free to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
In a statement from the company issued by its lawyers, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP, Condrain said it "has always had confidence in the justice system and that this matter would conclude as it has today."
It continued, "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."
It remains unclear what safety measures were present such as fencing, signage, or barricades in the vicinity of the large hole in the construction zone where the deadly crash occurred.
The City of Barrie has said the area was the site of an infrastructure project with new water mains and sanitary sewers at McKay Road and Veterans Drive.
Condrain, founded by the De Gasperis brothers, is one of the largest construction companies in Ontario.
Top Stories
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
WITH VIDEOWITH VIDEO Caught on camera: Man walks off with porch furniture from Barrie home
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Canadian women among those who allege Harrods boss sexually abused them
CTV News has learned there are multiple Canadian women alleging they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.
PM Justin Trudeau to adjust cabinet roles today, as Pablo Rodriguez quits
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be making adjustments to his cabinet today, CTV News has confirmed. The small shuffle is the result of longtime cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez quitting.
BREAKING
BREAKING Health Canada approves updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
An updated version of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Canada’s health agency.
Influencer couple denies leaving kids alone on cruise
For most people, dinner on a cruise ship is a time to relax. But when influencer couple Abby and Matt Howard decided to kick back with a dinner à deux, they ended up kicking up a storm.
BREAKING
BREAKING François Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the Bloc Québécois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.
Hezbollah leader vows retaliation against Israel for attacks on devices as both sides trade strikes
The leader of Hezbollah vowed to keep up daily strikes on Israel despite this week's mass bombing attack on its communication devices, and said Israelis displaced by the fighting from homes near the Lebanon border would not be able to return until the war in Gaza ends.
Canadian among dozens arrested in Ghost app global cybercrime crackdown
A Canadian suspect was among dozens arrested around the world in a global crackdown on the encrypted communication platform, called Ghost, according to the RCMP.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.
Huge python grabs Thai woman in her kitchen, squeezes her two hours before she can be freed
A 64-year-old woman was preparing to do her evening dishes at her home outside Bangkok when she felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see a huge python taking hold of her.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Ontario ends 2023-24 with nearly balanced budget, partly due to international tuition
Ontario ended the 2023-24 fiscal year with a nearly balanced budget, in part due to higher-than-expected revenue from international student tuition at colleges.
-
Some Waterloo Region families still waitlisted for before and after school care
Almost three weeks into the school year and some families are still on waitlists for before and after school care and it’s exposing some major gaps in the education system.
-
BREAKING
BREAKING Health Canada approves updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
An updated version of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Canada’s health agency.
London
-
Shooting in London at unknown location
A shooting early Wednesday morning is being investigated by London police after a man showed up at hospital with gunshot wounds — the catch, police don't know where the shooting happened.
-
Sentencing hearing in field party shooting
The mother and brother of an 18-year-old who was shot and killed during a teen field party more than three years ago gave emotional victim impact statements on Wednesday.
-
Children's Museum needs another $1 million to open doors by year's end
The London Children’s Museum says it will not be able to open its new site by the end of the year, as planned, unless it can come up with another $1 million.
Windsor
-
Active investigation on Ottawa Street east of Kildare Road
An active investigation is underway on Ottawa Street, east of Kildare Road.
-
Vacant building fire on Wyandotte Street East
Windsor firefighters responded to a vacant building fire on Wednesday night.
-
Over 320 screenings to be featured at WIFF, $200,000 investment announced
The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) has announced its lineup for this year’s festival.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Highway 101 remains closed west of Timmins after fatal crash
One person is dead and another is in hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries after a crash involving a commercial and passenger vehicle on Highway 101 west of Timmins on Wednesday afternoon.
-
Driver hauling 36,000 kg of ammonia arrested for impaired driving near Timmins, Ont.
James Bay Ontario Provincial Police have charged four commercial vehicle drivers with impaired, including one who was hauling 36,000 kilograms of ammonia hydrate.
-
One person dead following North Bay industrial incident
North Bay Police Service says one person has died following an industrial accident at the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission Rail Yard on Tuesday.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
One person dead following North Bay industrial incident
North Bay Police Service says one person has died following an industrial accident at the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission Rail Yard on Tuesday.
-
Car trouble in northern Ontario results in drug bust
Three northern Ontario residents are charged with drug trafficking after the vehicle they were in got stuck along a bush road off Highway 17 on Monday.
-
Sault man charged with threating victim with a hammer
A 50-year-old man in the Sault has been charged following an assault on Saturday that involved the use of a hammer.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa's idling bylaw faces bumpy road as new rules approved to address unnecessary idling
Ottawa is on the road to new rules to crack down on unnecessary idling in 2025, despite concerns about a lack of enforcement, insufficient education for drivers and allowing idling in school zones.
-
'We want to see our students back on buses': Talks set for Monday to restore school bus service in Renfrew County
The school bus authority that covers Renfrew County and the group that represents drivers are expected to meet for the second time this month Monday, as 10,000 students remain without a ride to school.
-
5 teenagers 'facing consequences' after 15-year-old girl assaulted at Pembroke, Ont. school, OPP says
Two teenage girls are facing assault charges and three other girls will be "facing consequences" under the Youth Criminal Justice Act following the assault of a girl at a Pembroke, Ont. school, according to police.
Montreal
-
Public services are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman
Public services in Quebec are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman Marc-André Dowd in his 2023-2024 annual report, which is filled with concrete examples.
-
BREAKING
BREAKING François Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the Bloc Québécois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.
-
Anita Anand taking on transport portfolio after Pablo Rodriguez leaves cabinet
Treasury Board President Anita Anand will take on the additional role of transport minister this afternoon, after Pablo Rodriguez resigned from cabinet to run for the Quebec Liberal leadership.
Atlantic
-
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs kicks off provincial election
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has called for a provincial election. Voters will go to the polls on Oct. 21, as prescribed by the province's fixed-date election law.
-
Public asked to avoid Dartmouth Commons area after bear spotted; two schools in hold-and-secure
Police are asking people to avoid the Dartmouth Commons area in Dartmouth, N.S., as they assist with a wildlife call for a bear.
-
Nova Scotia adding 14 pharmacies to primary care clinic program
Fourteen pharmacies in Nova Scotia will join the community pharmacy primary care clinic program this fall.
Winnipeg
-
Tornado, severe thunderstorm watches issued for parts of Manitoba and Ontario
After a soggy, chaotic few days in Manitoba, more severe thunderstorms could be on the way to parts of the province on Thursday.
-
Evacuation at Université de Saint-Boniface after suspicious item found on campus
A Winnipeg university was evacuated Thursday morning due to a suspicious item on campus.
-
Manitoba cabinet minister 'inadvertently' violated rules: ethics commissioner
Manitoba's ethics commissioner has found an NDP cabinet minister was in the wrong when he failed to disclose he had a business contract with the government, but he is not recommending a penalty.
Calgary
-
Calgary police investigate sexual assault of girl at Fish Creek Park
Calgary police are investigating the sexual assault of a young girl in Fish Creek Park.
-
Speed investigated in deadly Macleod Trail motorcycle crash
Calgary police say speed is being investigated as a factor in a deadly two-vehicle crash on Wednesday evening.
-
Calgary stair climbing challenge at McHugh Bluffs supports military personnel
Calgarians can mark military family appreciation day (MFAD) Friday by following in the footsteps of Lieutenant-Colonel Sandy Cooper in a stair climbing challenge called Stairs of Strength.
Edmonton
-
Alberta mayor apologizes for comments about killing feral cats
The mayor of Fort Saskatchewan apologized on Thursday for comments she made earlier this week about killing feral cats.
-
$149M approved by province for Jasper wildfire recovery
The Alberta government will provide $149 million for Jasper's recovery from a wildfire that burned one third of its townsite, the province announced on Thursday.
-
2 killed in early morning crash near Thorsby
Thorsby RCMP are investigating a crash that killed two people early Thursday morning.
Regina
-
Tornado confirmed near Langbank, Sask.: ECCC
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has confirmed a tornado touched down Wednesday evening near Langbank, Sask.
-
Sask. premier's popularity hits 2 year low, poll says
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's popularity has hit a two year low, according to a recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute.
-
Serious collision on Sask. highway re-routes traffic
Outlook RCMP are responding to a serious collision on Highway 15 in the RM of Rudy, Sask. on Thursday morning.
Saskatoon
-
In letters to slain girlfriend's family, Thomas Hamp said he thinks weed caused his psychotic break
Thomas Hamp says he believed secret police were out to kidnap, torture, and kill him when he fatally stabbed his girlfriend Emily Sanche in February of 2022.
-
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.
-
Serious collision on Sask. highway re-routes traffic
Outlook RCMP are responding to a serious collision on Highway 15 in the RM of Rudy, Sask. on Thursday morning.
Vancouver
-
Video shows historic bridge in Kamloops, B.C., collapsing after fire
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
-
1 dead after Langley crash; Highway 1 eastbound closed
Police have closed Highway 1 eastbound through Langley while they investigate a crash that left a motorcyclist dead early Thursday morning.
-
NDP flips, BC United flops, B.C. Conservatives surge as election campaign approaches
If the lead up to British Columbia's provincial election campaign is any indication of what’s to come, voters should expect the unexpected.
Vancouver Island
-
Video shows historic bridge in Kamloops, B.C., collapsing after fire
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
-
NDP flips, BC United flops, B.C. Conservatives surge as election campaign approaches
If the lead up to British Columbia's provincial election campaign is any indication of what’s to come, voters should expect the unexpected.
-
'Trove of extraordinary fossils' discovered in northern B.C., museum says
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
