Teen released on $20,000 bail in friend’s death at building site
John Wells walked out of the Elgin Street courthouse Wednesday after he was granted bail in the “death by misadventure” of his friend at a Barrhaven construction site.
Wells, 19, appeared in court by video link Wednesday afternoon facing five charges in the death of a 17-year-old boy at a building site on Thanksgiving Monday.
He is charged with criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, driving with a blood-alcohol level over 80 mg per 100 millilitres causing death and taking a vehicle without consent.
Wells wore a blue North Face hoodie and answered “yup” when asked if he understood the conditions of his release, which include a total of $20,000 in sureties posted by Wells himself and three others. He is also to live with his father and can’t leave the house between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
A publication ban covers evidence presented at his bail hearing.
Wells said nothing as he left court in the company of several family members.
Police allege Wells was driving a stolen JLG telescopic forklift on the job site when he ran over his 17-year-old friend.
Residents on the street, which has numerous homes under various states of construction, said they were alerted to the incident by a young man knocking frantically at the door around 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Addison Esprit, who lives on Freshwater Way near Cape Jack Walk Court, said the man appeared intoxicated as he begged for help. He was bare-chested and holding a blood-soaked shirt.
“He was crying that he had killed his friend. That’s a stupid way to die,” Esprit told the Citizen.
He said he had just run over his friend with a piece of heavy machinery at a nearby construction site. Neighbours dialed 911 as Esprit and the young man raced to the scene nearby, where they found the motionless body of the 17-year-old.
First responders were called to the site around 8:45 p.m.
Paramedics said the boy had suffered trauma to multiple systems of his body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The identity of the teenager killed was not released.
Police arrested Wells at the scene. They also seized a black pickup truck at the scene.
Wells is to appear in court again on Oct. 25.
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board confirmed the victim was a student, releasing a statement Tuesday saying the board is “saddened to learn about the death of a young man in our community.”