Driver pleads guilty in horrific Boxing Day crash that killed nine-year-old girl
Shocking video was played in a Calgary courtroom Friday showing a stolen, speeding van run a red light and crash into several vehicles, and the aftermath in which emergency workers frantically tried to save the life of a nine-year-old girl.
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Members of Victoria Desjardins' family cried and moaned in pain as video showing the lifeless girl being removed from her mother's car, where police and fire officials attempted to get a pulse while performing CPR.
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Nepoose also admitted causing bodily harm to the girl's mother and older sister, as well as another motorist while speeding through a red light on Macleod Trail.
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According to the statement of agreed facts read in by Buziak and signed by defence lawyers Sam Taylor and Rebecca Snukal, as well as their client, Nepoose was fleeing from police after robbing a Millrise pharmacy and stealing the owner's Dodge Caravan.
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Buziak said officers initially tried to make a traffic stop of the stolen vehicle around 9:41 a.m., but Nepoose sped off.
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The HAWCS police helicopter then tracked the vehicle as it drove on several major roadways in southwest Calgary, at one time accelerating to approximately 170 km/h, the prosecutor said.
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It eventually ended up on eastbound Stoney Trail before heading northbound on Macleod.
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'The vehicle continued traveling northbound on Macleod Trail travelling through the red lights at the intersections of 109th Avenue and also 99th Avenue before entering the intersection of Southland Drive against the red light,' Buziak said.
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Nepoose struck two vehicles travelling westbound on Southland Drive, including a silver Pontiac Vibe being driven by Victoria's mother, Amanda Reitmeier.
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'A video recording of the collision was recorded by a dash camera of a vehicle situated in the eastbound lane of Southland Driver,' Buziak said.
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Reitmeier and her two daughters, Madison Desjardins, 12, and Victoria, were seriously injured, the prosecutor told court.
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Global News
20 hours ago
- Global News
Driver in deadly Boxing Day crash pleads guilty to dangerous driving
The man charged in the Boxing Day death of a young Calgary girl has pleaded guilty to charges relating to her death. Nine-year-old Victoria Desjardins died after the vehicle she was in with her mom and sister was hit by a stolen van on Dec. 26, 2024. On Friday, 30-year-old Duane Nepoose pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, as well as three counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, robbery and flight from police. The plea was entered in a Calgary courtroom as Victoria's family listened to an agreed statement of facts that outlined the day's events and watched four videos that supported the timeline. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The first video was from a security camera at a Millrise Pharmasave. The Crown read a statement from the pharmacist that stated Nepoose entered the store around 9:20 a.m. and asked for a prescription refill. He then punched the pharmacist and stole his car keys, before fleeing in the stolen van. Story continues below advertisement The second video was from the Calgary Police Service's HAWCS helicopter and showed the van driving erratically through south Calgary and Tsu'tiina Nation before speeding up Macleod Trail, eventually hitting four other vehicles. A dashcam video showed the moment of impact and the final video was from an officer-worn body camera that showed Nepoose being arrested before the officer opened the doors of the Reitmeier-Desjardins car to find the badly-injured family. Amanda Reitmeier sat in the courtroom with family and friends watching her daughter's final moments play out, the family crying and holding each other as each video was played. Family will have the opportunity to read victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing which will be heard by a judge. A date for the hearing will be set on June 13th. 'Whatever happens is not going to be enough because it can't and will never bring Victoria back,' said Kelsey Morash, a spokesperson for the family. 'It can't and will never undo the injuries sustained to Amanda and Madison and the psychological effects from that are going to be lifelong.'
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Calgary Herald
Driver pleads guilty in horrific Boxing Day crash that killed nine-year-old girl
Shocking video was played in a Calgary courtroom Friday showing a stolen, speeding van run a red light and crash into several vehicles, and the aftermath in which emergency workers frantically tried to save the life of a nine-year-old girl. Article content Members of Victoria Desjardins' family cried and moaned in pain as video showing the lifeless girl being removed from her mother's car, where police and fire officials attempted to get a pulse while performing CPR. Article content Article content Article content Nepoose also admitted causing bodily harm to the girl's mother and older sister, as well as another motorist while speeding through a red light on Macleod Trail. Article content According to the statement of agreed facts read in by Buziak and signed by defence lawyers Sam Taylor and Rebecca Snukal, as well as their client, Nepoose was fleeing from police after robbing a Millrise pharmacy and stealing the owner's Dodge Caravan. Article content Article content Buziak said officers initially tried to make a traffic stop of the stolen vehicle around 9:41 a.m., but Nepoose sped off. Article content The HAWCS police helicopter then tracked the vehicle as it drove on several major roadways in southwest Calgary, at one time accelerating to approximately 170 km/h, the prosecutor said. Article content Article content It eventually ended up on eastbound Stoney Trail before heading northbound on Macleod. Article content 'The vehicle continued traveling northbound on Macleod Trail travelling through the red lights at the intersections of 109th Avenue and also 99th Avenue before entering the intersection of Southland Drive against the red light,' Buziak said. Article content Nepoose struck two vehicles travelling westbound on Southland Drive, including a silver Pontiac Vibe being driven by Victoria's mother, Amanda Reitmeier. Article content 'A video recording of the collision was recorded by a dash camera of a vehicle situated in the eastbound lane of Southland Driver,' Buziak said. Article content Reitmeier and her two daughters, Madison Desjardins, 12, and Victoria, were seriously injured, the prosecutor told court. Article content
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Calgary Police shoot man after brandishing possible handgun
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