Local teen acquitted of wrongdoing in connection to 2024 MVC that caused another youth’s death

By Medicine Hat News on March 18, 2026.

A Medicine Hat teen charged in connection to the death of another teen in a motor vehicle collision in the summer of 2024 has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

The youth was charged with dangerous driving causing death for his involvement in an accident that occurred when the accused was 17 years old.

“In this particular case, I cannot find that the Crown has proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a reasonable person would have foreseen the risk of making the manoeuvre, nor that that failure to do so would be a marked departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person in those circumstances,” wrote youth court Justice Cathy Reiger in a decision posted online.

The accused was driving on a residential street when he passed a group of other teens on mopeds. He then returned to his lane and continued driving onward.

Shortly thereafter, the car travelling behind the accused struck one of the teens, who sustained injuries that later caused his death.

Regier found the passing manoeuvre was dangerous, but that evidence did not prove the accused’s actions caused the collision that resulted in the other teen’s death. Reiger said all witnesses agreed there was no oncoming traffic or pedestrians in the road when the accused made his passing manoeuvre.

The identity of both the accused and the deceased are protected by a provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Neither are named in the written decision.

Two other youths were charged with provincial traffic offences related to the collision.