No charges for man who allowed girl to drive Jeep, killing 12- year- old

Charges will not be pursued against a man who allowed an 11- year- old girl to drive his sport utility vehicle, leading to a rollover that killed a 12- year- old.

“He gave them the keys to drive,” said Sherri Quam, whose daughter, Sheraya, died the evening of May 17, 2013, when the 1994 Jeep YJ she was in went off the Causeway Forest Service Road near Mackenzie.

“I’m very angry and I’m very devastated and I can’t believe the justice system is this sad.”

Sheraya had been camping near Lions Lake when in the afternoon she and a friend began taking turns driving the Jeep under the supervision of Vincent Chris Clarke, who was 41 at the time.

Police investigated and forwarded a report to Crown counsel, which decides if charges can be pursued. Quam learned late last week that Clarke will not be charged.

Neil Mackenzie, a spokesman for the provincial Ministry of Justice’s criminal justice branch, said a charge of criminal negligence causing death was considered but Crown concluded there was not a strong likelihood of conviction.