Driver fined $1.8K, banned 15 months after crash that killed TRU volleyball player in Kamloops

The man behind the wheel in a fatal 2023 crash near Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops has been sentenced to a fine and driving ban — a conclusion that has left many victims’ families questioning Canada’s traffic laws.

Colval Shaquille Abbinett, 30, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention under B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act. The crash, which occurred on Nov. 29, 2023, killed 22-year-old TRU volleyball player Owyn McInnis and left two of his teammates with life-altering injuries. Seven others were also hurt.

Abbinett’s $1,800 fine and 15-month driving ban fell short of the maximum penalty. While the offence can also carry up to six months in jail, Crown and defence lawyers agreed incarceration was inappropriate because Abbinett did not intend harm.

Inside the Courtroom

During Wednesday’s hearing, victim impact statements from 14 people were read, including McInnis’s fiancée, who spoke about the loss of the future they had planned. One of McInnis’s injured teammates described spending five months in a coma and now lives with a permanent brain injury.

The court heard Abbinett may have fallen asleep or lost consciousness while driving his Dodge Ram, which veered into a Volkswagen Jetta near the TRU campus. Witnesses reported seeing the truck swerving at inconsistent speeds before the crash.

Outside court, regional Crown counsel Jessica Patterson acknowledged the case’s emotional difficulty, explaining why prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges like dangerous driving causing death.

“Criminal law in Canada doesn’t criminalize people for involuntary behaviour,” Patterson said. “We have to be satisfied there’s a substantial likelihood of conviction.”

Families React

Some family members expressed disappointment at what they saw as a lenient outcome. Chris Brinnen, whose son was seriously injured, said the sentence felt inadequate given the trauma their families continue to live with.

“It’s never going to be over for any of us, but we can all move past this part,” Brinnen said.

Prosecutors noted the case highlights the limits of provincial traffic laws in addressing tragedies that arise from unintentional acts — a factor that has renewed calls for reform, including the proposed “Xavier’s Law”, which seeks stricter penalties for fatal collisions.