The son of former Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin has been charged in connection to a fatal accident that left one man dead in a central Ottawa parking garage Friday.
John Joseph Tobin, known as Jack, 24, was charged early Saturday with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.
At about 3 a.m. Friday, police were called to the Vinci Market Garage, where they found a 24-year-old man trapped under a Dodge Ram truck on the fifth floor.
The man was freed but was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has been identified as Alex Zolpis, 24. He and Tobin were friends who went to high school and university together.
"They were amongst a small group of friends who were all very close," Brian Tobin said.
He and his wife, Jodean, faced reporters outside of court Saturday.
"We just want to express our, Jack's, deep deep remorse for the loss of his friend Alex," Brian Tobin said.
"It is a tragedy for everybody involved and we can't add more."
Jack Tobin was released on a $100,000 bond. He was the only person charged in connection to the crash. He will appear in court next on Jan. 27, 2011.
There is a publication ban in place regarding the details of Tobin's bail. His next court date is Jan. 27.
His father, mother and two siblings were in court.
The family's lawyer, Mark Ertel, said they are grieving the death of the young man.
"The family is distraught," Ertel told reporters. "This is an unspeakable tragedy. The young man who died was his best friend."
The Tobin family issued a statement Friday evening extending their sympathies to the deceased young man's family.
Jack Tobin is a manager for Event Source Security and Investigations in Toronto. Three years ago he was stabbed several times when a brawl broke out at a Halifax dance party where he was working as security.
The 17-year-old youth pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the attack.
Brian Tobin was the premier of Newfoundland from 1996 to 2000.
