Construction company charged in Barrie, Ont., crash that killed 6 appears in court
It's been nearly seven months since a tragic crash claimed the lives of six young adults in a Barrie, Ont. construction site.
On Monday, ConDrain Group, charged in connection with the crash, appeared in court, represented by Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP, a high-profile law firm in Toronto.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
ConDrain is facing six counts of criminal negligence causing death.
Barrie police allege the company failed to properly sign and barricade the construction site, causing the deaths of Curtis King, 22; River Wells, 21; Jason Ono-O'Connor, 23; Luke West, 22; Jersey Mitchell, 20; and Haley Marin, 21.
Police believe the group was on their way to Georgian Downs in Innisfil on the morning of August 27, 2022, when the vehicle plunged down a 20-metre-deep concrete pit in the construction zone along McKay Road, east of County Road 27.
Officers searching for the six missing individuals found the crash site more than 20 hours later.
According to the City of Barrie, the area was the site of an infrastructure project with new water mains and sanitary sewers being built at McKay Road and Veterans Drive.
Monday's appearance marked the second since police charged ConDrain on January 12.
Barrie police noted that a "unique set of circumstances" led to the company, not a specific individual, being charged in this "very complex investigation."
How the company failed to sign and barricade the site properly will now be argued in the courtroom.
Lawyers representing the company did not offer a comment.
Following the charges being laid, ConDrain told CTV News it would not comment on the case as it is before the courts.
The City of Barrie, meanwhile, said it "has cooperated fully with Barrie police with respect to all aspects of their investigation into this tragic accident."
The case against ConDrain will continue to unfold in the coming months, with the matter scheduled to return to court on April 17.
The allegations against Con-Drain Group have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.