Mixed reactions from some families of Carberry crash victims after Crown lays no charges
Posted June 27, 2024 5:45 pm.
Last Updated June 27, 2024 7:09 pm.
A day after RCMP and Manitoba Crown Prosecutors announced there would be no charges in relation to the Carberry crash that killed 17 seniors, one family whose loved one was killed worry the decision will set a dangerous precedent.
“Very disappointed — my whole family was disappointed,” said Patrick Furkalo. “There was some negligence for sure and it was proven that way.”
One of the people killed was 82-year-old Margaret Furkalo. Her son Patrick says family is frustrated no charges were laid, pointing to the fact the driver was using his phone at points during the drive as a problem — stressing while RCMP found he was not on the phone at the time of the crash — the fact he was using it at all, was a sign of inattentiveness.
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“We have to be attentive all of the time but when you are carrying cargo like this, you have to be even more attentive.”
RCMP determined the semi-truck in the crash had the right of way, and blind spots in the mini-bus is likely why the driver did not see the truck, but Furkalo feels that reasoning is faulty and sets a dangerous path forward for future cases.
He says charges considered — dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death — should have been laid.
“Who wants to go and visit and talk to their deceased parent and say: ‘Sorry, Mom. The driver didn’t see — he wasn’t paying attention.’ What kind of answer is that to give them?”
He acknowledged however other families feel differently. Families like that of Louis Bretecher, his cousin, Georgette speaking on their behalf.
“I don’t think this gentleman needed anymore suffering if he ever gets any better than he is now. I’m really glad that he’s not getting charged,” said Bretecher.
She says when the family heard the RCMP’s reasoning the driver did not see the oncoming truck, it was not a shock.
“We knew there were major blind spots on the bus the day of the accident, so it was no surprise.”
She also said she feels Bretecher, who died at 81, would not have wanted to see the driver go to trial.
“I 100 per cent think Louie would not want to see this gentleman charge,” said Bretecher.
Manitoba Crown Prosecutor Chris Vanderhooft said it’s unlikely the decision would affect future cases of this nature, and says while the office takes these investigations very seriously, he acknowledges the answers it comes to are not always the ones people want.
