IMPAIRED CRASH
SGI settles suit against bars
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) has reached a settlement with two Saskatoon bars that served Catherine McKay alcohol before her impaired driving resulted in the deaths of four members of the Van de Vorst family.
SGI announced Wednesday that it had reached out-of-court settlements with Industrial Kitchen & Bar and MCDE Holdings Ltd., which operated Crackers Licensed Cocktail & Dining Room. The insurance company had filed a statement of claim in July 2017, alleging both establishments were negligent when they served McKay alcohol on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, 2016.
McKay was trying to cross Highway 11 at Wanuskewin Road on Jan. 3, 2016, when she struck a vehicle carrying Jordan Van de Vorst, 34, his wife Chanda, 33, and their two children, Kamryn, five, and Miguire, two.
The parents died at the scene, while the children died shortly after in hospital.
McKay pleaded guilty to four counts of impaired driving causing death in June 2016 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2017.
Neither tavern contacted Saskatoon police or other police agencies, and neither placed McKay in the care of a sober person, according to the statement of claim.
Under the agreement reached between SGI and the two establishments, the terms of the settlement will not be disclosed, according to the provincial government.
It was the first time SGI had pursued legal action against drinking establishments.
Last summer, SGI also filed a statement of claim against McKay. As no statement of defence was filed, the court has issued a judgment against her that allows SGI to take action to collect the amounts paid out on this claim.
“We all need to be held accountable — whether we’re drinking with our friends or family or drinking in a bar,” SGI executive vicepresident Earl Cameron said last July.
“I think this is a case of creating a lot of awareness and making people accountable for the actions that you take … Once you consume alcohol, it impairs your judgment. Once your judgment is impaired, someone needs to look after you.”
Lou Van de Vorst applauded SGI’s decision to sue the Saskatoon bars that served liquor to McKay that night.
“People who serve liquor have to be responsible in the way they serve that liquor and if they ’re not being responsible, then actions end up with consequences,” Van de Vorst said last summer. “It’s one more step in trying to get the number of impaired driving charges, deaths and injuries due to impaired drivers down. Anything that can be done is a welcome thing.”