Speed a factor in Surrey crash that killed teens

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Speed was a factor in the crash that claimed the lives of three teens in Surrey last weekend.

According to the Surrey RCMP, an ongoing investigation has determined that the vehicle was “travelling at a speed significantly greater than the posted speed limit at the time of the collision.”

Parker Magnuson, Ronin Sharma, and Caleb Reimer were killed when the vehicle slammed into a tree in the early morning of Saturday, Aug. 21. It happened just before 3 a.m.

The teens, who were all youth hockey players, have been mourned by the Lower Mainland community and beyond.

“The entire community has been greatly impacted by the loss of these three young men,” said Surrey RCMP Sgt. Elenore Sturko.

“We saw, especially over the weekend, a tremendous outpouring of support for the families of those that were killed in the collision. We know that a lot of young hockey players in the community, as well as people from the school community, are really feeling the impacts of this collision. It’s not easy to get further information or find out speed was a contributing factor in the collision, but we wanted to make sure that we do provide some update to the community who are wondering and they have questions about how something just so sad could happen in the community,” Sturko told NEWS 1130.

She notes the Surrey RCMP is not expecting to be putting out another update on this file, though she adds more work is being done in the probe.

“We did want to bring some preliminary findings to the community because there are so many questions, especially when we lose three young people in the community, together, so suddenly. It has a lot of impacts. There were a lot of rumours circulating in the community, so we did want to put some of that to rest before we go on with the further investigation.”

 

Sharma was in his second year with the Langley Rivermen, while Reimer played for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL. Both Reimer and Magnuson previously played with the Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association.

A private funeral service will be held Saturday to remember Sharma.

All three were players with the Delta Hockey Academy.

Mounties say the Integrated Collison Analysis and Reconstructive Service (ICARS) and the Surrey RCMP Criminal Collison Investigation Team (CCIT) are still investigating.

People who are looking for support services can contact the Surrey RCMP for more information. Resources are also available through your healthcare provider, as well as online.

Tens of thousands raised for families

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page set up to support the three teens’ families has surpassed its $50,000 goal.

More than $62,000 had been raised in just four days, with the total continuing to climb.

“Our hearts go out to all of the family and friends of Caleb, Parker, and Ronin. Rest in peace boys – you are all so very loved,” the page reads.

-With files from Charlie Carey and Claire Fenton