The former TRU roommate of a student athlete killed in last November’s a horrific crash just outside the University is hoping for a ground-swell of support to have the current charges in the case reviewed and potentially upgraded.

“I think, if there is enough public support and, maybe, outcry, some of the higher-up government officials can re-evaluate the case and, maybe, get some criminal charges,” said Dylan VanSpankenen, who was living with Owyn McInnis in student housing at Thompson Rivers University when the November 29th, 2023 crash took place.

McInnis was killed in that crash, which also severely injured fellow TRU Men’s Volleyball players Riley Brinnen and Owen Waterhouse — both of whom are still attempting to recover from life-altering injuries.

VanSpankenen, along friends and family members of the young victims, are circulating a letter for people to sign and forward to the provincial government, calling for a review by BC Attorney General Nikki Sharma.

“The case, which involves charges related to the Motor Vehicle Act, specifically driving with undue care and attention, deserves a thorough and transparent review to ensure accountability and justice,” states the form letter, which has been put out by the parents of crash survivor Riley Brinnen, whose father is a former RCMP officer.   “As a concerned citizen, I believe this tragedy highlights the critical need for stringent enforcement of road safety regulations and deeper examination of the circumstances to this heartbreaking event.”

The letter goes on to claim there’s evidence the pick-up truck was travelling at twice the posted speed limit of 50 km/h at the time of the crash.

Those claims have never been part of information put out publicly by Kamloops RCMP.

“Emergency responders were called to the intersection of McGill Road and University Drive, after a Dodge Ram truck collided with several small trees before striking a Volkswagen that was stopped at a red light, creating secondary crashes with four other vehicles,” said Kamloops RCMP in a news release the day after the crash, which was the extent of the public information it provided about the crash itself.

Calling the charge of undue care an attention “completely unacceptable,” the letter then provides legal definitions to support an argument for a possible dangerous driving charge.

“The Criminal Code of Canada Section 320.13 deals with dangerous operation of a conveyance, such as a motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, or railway.  320.13(1) everyone commits an offence who operates a conveyance in a manner that, having regard to all the circumstances, is dangerous to the public. 320.13(2) Operation causing bodily harm 320.13(3) Operation casing death,” states the letter.

In announcing the conclusion of its investigation on November 25th, 2024, Kamloops RCMP did not provide details into why charges under the motor vehicle act were chosen.

“All available evidence was pursued in order to present a complete charge recommendation package,” said Kamloops RCMP in a release on that day.  “The BC Prosecutive Service reviewed the Report to Crown Counsel and concluded that the evidence supported a charge under Section 144 of the MVA, driving without due care and attention.”

VanSpankenen says he was in a state of “straight disbelief” when word came down that no criminal charges would be laid in the crash, the aftermath he walked by just a couple of hours later outside the southwest gate of the University’s campus.

Now getting his masters degree in his home town of Calgary, Alberta after graduating from TRU, VanSpankenen says he remains close with all his former team mates on the Men’s Volleyball team, including crash survivors Riley Brinnen and Owen Waterhouse.

He says they’ve been bonded for life through the tragedy.

“I knew we’d be disappointed. There’s no charge that could have fixed what happened,” said VanSpankenen, fighting back tears as he was speaking to Radio NL on the one-year anniversary of the crash. “But when we heard there was no criminal charge… It was joke. It makes no sense to any of us.”