A 31-year-old Kamloops man has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Battle Street and First Avenue on November 3 last year.
Police say Reid McKnight is facing three counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of failing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident. He is also facing two firearms allegations dating to the day after the crash related to careless use and improper storage.
Staff Sgt. Simon Pillay says McKnight – who is the registered owner of the 2019 Ford Ranger that was involved in the crash – was arrested this morning.
Following the crash last November, police said the driver of the westbound truck had fled the scene after speeding through a stop sign on Battle Street and hitting a 2008 Dodge Charger, which was heading up First Avenue.
Daniel Okocha, 22, Feyisola Adebowale, 27, and Oluwatosin Adeojo, 30, were killed – Okocha and Adebowale were killed at the scene while Adeojo died nine days later in hospital. A 24-year-old man who was also in the car suffered non-life threatening injuries.
“Our investigation revealed the four men in the Charger were international students and alumni from Thompson Rivers University. They had spent the evening in downtown Kamloops and were responsibly using a designated driver to get themselves home safely,” Pillay said.
“At the time of the collision, these men were doing exactly what they should have been doing and in no way contributed to collision.”
McKnight was arrested at his house about 14 hours after the crash and then released without charges, pending further investigation, which Pillay says is not uncommon.
“There were some technical aspects to this case that took significant time and effort to secure. We turned to the public for help several times in this case to identify additional witnesses,” he said. “The citizens of Kamloops answered these calls and several people came forward with very important information.”
“The RCMP would specifically like to thank those who rushed to the aid of these men. Several businesses and organizations also cooperated with police requests for things like surveillance video and it is that fulsome community support that brings justice to those adversely affected by criminal acts.”
Pillay says on November 4, the RCMP Serious Crime Unit executed a search warrant at McKnight’s home and seized evidence and firearms unrelated to the crash.
A date for McKnight’s first court appearance has not yet been set.