Crash that claimed 6 lives in Barrie, Ont. construction zone marks 2 years

Two years have passed since a crash in a construction zone on McKay Road in Barrie, Ont., claimed the lives of six young adults.

The crash occurred in the early morning hours of August 27, 2022, when the vehicle carrying the victims plunged into a large concrete structure. The impact was catastrophic.

The six occupants, Curtis King, River Wells, Jason Ono-O'Connor, Luke West, Jersey Mitchell, and Haley Marin, all in their early 20s, were pronounced dead at the scene.

It's believed the group was on their way to a casino in Innisfil when the car crashed into the massive hole in the centre of the closed road between Veterans Drive and County Road 27 in the city's south end.

The six victims had been reported missing, sparking an active police search. Officers would find the crash site nearly 20 hours later.

Following what authorities described as a complex investigation, Barrie police charged the construction company, Con-Drain Group, with failing to secure the site. The Crown later withdrew those charges, citing no reasonable prospect of a conviction.

The crash site turned into a memorial, with many leaving flowers, notes, and other tributes in remembrance.

McKay Road has since reopened to traffic.