A brief court appearance on Monday as criminal proceedings began against a construction company charged with six counts of criminal negligence causing death.
Barrie police announced the charges last month against Con-Drain Group Limited.
Last Aug. 28, police were involved in a missing persons case when they located a crash scene on McKay Road, east of County Road 27.
Police determined a car with six occupants plunged into a deep pit at a construction site.
Investigators said the group was on their way to a nearby casino around 6 a.m. when the crash happened on Aug 27.
The victims of the crash, River Wells, Jason Ono-O’Connor, Jersey Mitchell, Luke West, Curtis King and Haley Marin, were all in their early 20s.
In a news release on Aug. 28, 2022, the City of Barrie said the area where the six people died was the site of a city construction project and the intersection had been closed since the spring.
“We were devastated to hear the news of an accident in the area of McKay Road West and Veteran’s Drive,” said Michael Prowse, Chief Administrative Officer and City Manager. “The area was a construction site being managed by city contractors to deliver the design, construction and financing of the water, sewer and road work along McKay Road and Veteran’s Drive to service new development in the area. The road has been fully closed and signed accordingly for many months.”
The deaths rocked the community and hundreds of people turned out for a vigil at Barrie's waterfront several days later to remember the young victims.
The case has been moved to March 13.
None of the allegations against Con-Drain Group Limited have been proven in court.
Banner image - Barrie 360 - File Photo - Vigil - Sept. 3, 2022
