Calgary, AB,
07
March
2016
|
15:30
America/Denver

WinSport Investigation Concludes

The Calgary Police Service has concluded its investigation into the double fatality on the WinSport sliding track and can confirm no charges will be laid in connection with this incident.

Investigators with the Centralized General Investigations Section have been able to interview the victims and after a thorough review of the scene, have confirmed the following details.

At approximately 1:10 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, eight teens aged 16 to 19 parked their vehicles on Paskapoo Drive S.W., and climbed over a seven foot locked fence at Canada Olympic Park. The teens were carrying three plastic sleds.

The teens immediately went to the start of the bobsleigh track. A group of three teens, including Evan Caldwell, climbed aboard one sled and started down the track. Caldwell was sitting in the rear of the sled.

At turn number five, where the bobsleigh and luge tracks merge, a large barrier/gate was configured to allow the luge track to be open and the bobsleigh track to be blocked. This barrier/gate is approximately two feet in height and 60 feet in length, with a thick metal chain and come-along bar holding the structure in place.

The group on the first sled passed under the chain, however, struck the barrier/gate, pushing it towards the centre of the track. The teens fell from the sled, with two of the injured teens sliding further down the track.

The second group of three teens, unaware of what had occurred, launched from the top of the bobsleigh track, also on a plastic sled. As they entered turn five, they fleetingly saw the chain as they passed underneath it. It was at this point they struck one of the already injured teens who was laying on the track, throwing all from their sled.

One of the teens was able to jump off the track and attempted to run back up to the starting point to warn his remaining two friends, however, they had already started down.

The third sled had two passengers, including Jordan Caldwell, who was sitting at the front of the sled. As the sled approached the collision scene, Jordan Caldwell struck the chain. Both teens came to rest near the other injured parties.

One of the teens used a cell phone to call 911 for help.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death for both Evan and Jordan Caldwell to be multiple blunt force trauma. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a contributing factor in this incident.

The teens who were seriously injured in the incident have since been released from hospital, however, at least one will have life-altering injuries as a result of the incident.

After interviewing all parties involved and a thorough investigation into the factors, due to the specific circumstances of the incident charges will not be laid.

No further details will be released and police will not be speaking to this matter as it has been deemed not to be a criminal incident. The Calgary Police Service would like to thank WinSport for their assistance in this investigation.