Video played during guilty plea showing efforts of first responders to save girl's life after crash
CBC
Gut-wrenching video was played in court on Friday showing a Calgary police officer and firefighter both trying to save the life of an unconscious nine-year-old girl who was injured in a car crash on Boxing Day after a man blew through a red light in a stolen minivan.
The family of Victoria Desjardins sobbed in court as an officer's body-worn camera video was played as part of Duane Nepoose's guilty plea.
Nepoose admitted to stealing a minivan, fleeing police and causing the crash that left Desjardins dead and seven others — including her mother and older sister — injured.
Nepoose, 30, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, robbery and fleeing a police officer.
An agreed statement of facts detailing the crime was read in by prosecutor Todd Buziak.
Court heard that on the morning of Dec. 24, 2024, Nepoose entered a pharmacy, punched the pharmacist, took the man's car keys and then stole his minivan.
The pharmacy owner called 911. About 20 minutes later, police spotted the stolen minivan.
Officers tried to pull him over but Nepoose sped away, blowing through red lights.
Calgary police's HAWC helicopter began following Nepoose in the stolen vehicle, which reached speeds of 170 kilometres per hour.
Video from the helicopter was also played as part of the plea.
It showed Nepoose driving dangerously, speeding, blowing through red lights and weaving through traffic in the city's deep south. Ultimately, he ended up on Macleod Trail.
At the Southland Drive intersection, Nepoose blew through another red light, this time crashing into several vehicles, including a Pontiac Vibe driven by Amanda Reitmeier, whose two daughters were also in the car.
Video from tactical team Const. Myles Hovdebo's body-worn camera was also played in court, showing the officer pulling Nepoose out of the damaged minivan. The offender was placed face down on the pavement and handcuffed by other officers.
Hovdebo then ran to the Vibe, wrenching open the back door.
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