WinSport boss ‘did not foresee’ fatal crash on bobsled track
WinSport president and chief executive Barry Heck said he never imagined a group of thrill-seeking teenagers would take a joyride on the Olympic bobsled run.
Heck, testifying Thursday at the inquiry into the deaths of Evan and Jordan Caldwell, said security and safety has always been the priority for his organization.
“Did you ever consider this track might be an enticement to some thrill-seeking youth?” inquiry counsel Cynthia Hykaway asked Heck.
“No,” Heck said.
“It’s enticing to athletes … that’s what we do, we provide that to them, but in a safe and controlled manner,” he said.
“I did not foresee that the track would be used in that manner.”
The twin 17-year-olds died in the early-morning hours of Feb. 6, 2016, when they and six church friends scaled a fence near the start of the nearly 1.5-km bobsled run armed with three plastic sleds.
The group was unaware the track was blocked by a barricade 491 metres down the hill, designed to cut off the bobsled track when the luge run was in use.
The barricade was also held in place by a metal chain strung across the path of the bobsled run.
Both boys were killed when they crashed into the chain and barrier.
Heck told provincial court Judge Margaret Keelaghan that WinSport is continually looking at ways to improve safety at Canada Olympic Park, which he called “a very special asset for Calgary.”
“We continue to look at not just the track, but everything — what can we do, technical changes,” he said.
But Heck told Hykaway that other than some security improvements already implemented with fencing at sliding track starting points, he could not think of any changes that could prevent similar deaths.
“There’s nothing glaring that pops into mind,” he said. “There’s only so much you can do.”
Meanwhile, the inquiry closed with comments from the boys’ parents, Jason and Shauna Caldwell.
Jason Caldwell said they weren’t looking for someone to blame for the tragedy.
“We don’t hold anyone accountable for the loss of our sons,” he said.
And he implored other parents to learn from the incident.
“We raise our kids to love life, we raise them to be creative, to have a spark of life, to pursue adventure,” he said.