The families of Owen Waterhouse, a young man from Kelowna who was severely injured in a tragic crash, are voicing their outrage after the decision was made to not pursue criminal charges against the driver responsible. On November 29, 2023, Owen, only 21 years old, sustained life-altering injuries, including a severe brain injury, when his Volkswagen Jetta was rear-ended by a Dodge Ram truck driven by Colval Abbinett in Kamloops. This harrowing incident not only caused Owen’s injuries but also tragically took the life of Owyn McInnis, a fellow volleyball team member from Thompson Rivers University, while another passenger, Riley Brinnen, suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury. The enormity of the incident has left the affected families grappling with emotional turmoil and a desire for accountability for the irreversible damage caused.
Kelley Waterhouse, Owen’s mother, expressed her frustration at the lack of accountability following the crash. She recounted the physical and emotional devastation her son and his friends are enduring, stating emphatically, “They are going to give someone a ticket after he destroyed three lives.” Kelley shared the profound impact of the crash on their lives; Owen’s injuries have forced him to relearn basic skills such as walking and speaking. After spending six months in the hospital, where doctors feared he might not survive, Owen is now making strides toward recovery but still requires constant therapy and assistance. This condition has led the family to dedicate multiple days of the week to Owen’s rehabilitation, a situation they are navigating amidst their grief and frustration.
The decision by the British Columbia Prosecution Service to forgo criminal charges has prompted the families of the crash victims to call for a comprehensive review of the case. A statement issued by the Prosecution Service asserted that to proceed with criminal charges, determinants must include a substantial likelihood of conviction and a public interest warranting prosecution. They emphasized that an objective assessment of the entire investigative file led to the decision not to pursue charges. In response to community outrage, B.C.’s attorney general, Niki Sharma, recognized the tragedy of the situation and promised to look into the matter further.
Evidence suggests that Colval Abbinett, the driver of the truck, was engaging in erratic driving behavior prior to the crash, having reportedly struck trees and driven on sidewalks. This alarming behavior raises significant concerns regarding accountability for such reckless actions that culminated in significant harm to others in the community. As families grapple with the fallout from the incident, they have initiated a letter-writing campaign aimed at encouraging a thorough review of the case, expressing the heartfelt belief that the young men involved “are worth it,” and they deserve justice for the losses they have suffered.
The collision has left a lasting impact not just on the victims but also on their families and the wider community, eliciting feelings of anger and helplessness towards the legal system’s response. The Waterhouse family, along with others affected, feels that there should be tangible consequences for the actions that led to the devastating crash. They are hopeful that their collective efforts will lead to meaningful action and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The call for justice underscores a deeper sentiment shared by many in the community: that lives have been irrevocably changed, and those responsible should bear the consequences of their actions.
The continuation of this case sheds light on the complexities of legal proceedings in serious incidents involving injuries and fatalities caused by potential negligence and reckless behavior. The Waterhouse and Brinnen families’ advocacy highlights the importance of community involvement in seeking justice and the need for a judicial review to ensure that the legal system acts fairly and justly in the face of such tragedies. Through their relentless campaign for accountability, they aim not only to honor the lives disrupted by the crash but also to bring attention to the broader implications of vehicular safety and driver responsibility on public roadways.
