Parents of twins killed in bobsled crash hope sons' fate will deter other adventurous teens

The parents of twin teenage brothers killed in a thrill-seeking stunt at Canada Olympic Park hope their story and the subsequent fatality inquiry this week will serve as a teaching moment to other parents and extended family members who may know adventurous teens.

"Although this culture is trying to entice you into an adrenaline seeking 15 seconds of fame, YouTube kind of lifestyle, the fact is that you are not indestructible, there's risks that you can regret, there's things you can't do, so don't cross that fence," said Jason Caldwell.

"And when we hear of our kids thinking about doing those things that are pushing those kinds of boundaries we need to speak up."

Evan and Jordan Caldwell were among a group of eight teenagers who broke into the park after hours and rode toboggans down the bobsled track early on Feb.6, 2016. Their sleds hit a metal barrier and crashed, killing the brothers and seriously injuring most of the other six boys.

• Teen who survived deadly COP stunt says better signs, not fences could prevent similar deaths

Caldwell saidif his sonshad survived this crash they'd be the first to apologize for causing such heartache and grief to everyone involved.

"But they didn't get that chance,"said Jason Caldwell.

The Caldwells attended all four days of the fatality inquiry overseen by Judge Margaret Keelaghan.

She thanked them for their participation.

"The humanity and the grace you have shown through the course, in your life, has been extraordinary," said Keelaghan as the inquiry wrapped up Thursday.

Keelaghan saidshe was mistaken to believe this process would bring the couple peace because it appears the two have already found it through their strong Christian faith.

But added, "we share hope that some good can come out of this inquiry and I will do my best."

• Parents of teen thrill-seekers hope safety changes emerge from inquiry into bobsled-track deaths

Earlier in the day the inquiry heard from both current and former top officials at WinSport.

The organization's CEO saidthere's only so much you can do to prevent trespassers from accessing the high speed bobsled and luge tracks.

Barry Heck saidsince the fatal incident they've made a number of changes including installing new fences and gates, spending $10,000 improving signage,increasing security patrolsand ensuring the metal barrier is put in a neutral positionovernight.

"You can only have so many deterrents, there is only so much you can do, it's an open and inviting place."

"Short of closing, you can't completely eliminate everything, you can only go so far."

'Unforseeable' tragedy

Heck said safety permeates everything they do at Winsport.

Looking back, he never imagined the tracks would have been enticing to teenagers.

"Its enticing to athletes to high-performance athletes, that's what we do but it's in a safe and controlled manner.

"This terrible tragedy is something that was completely unforeseen, unforeseeable."

Chief operating officer John Sutherland was also called to testify.

Sutherland saidWinSport is also considering adding infrared sensors at the top of the track which could trigger all the lights to go onalong the track, or trip an alarm that would be sent to a security guard's phone.

He saidsenior staff did consider putting a fence along the length of the tracks, but deemed it wasn't feasible.

"This is where you have to balance that with the primaryuse of the track by athletes."

He saidthey need to be able to quickly reach an athlete if they got hurt.

"We have to extricate them from the track putting up a fence along the track would be a serious barrier to that."

Sutherland saidWinsport islooking at adding another camera at the gate at the top of the hill, close to the start of the bobsled track.

• Fatal bobsled accident not preventable by guards, Winsport's former security manager tells inquiry

The inquiry counsel also asked the witnesses, which included WinSportofficials, about whether it would help if orientation materials included information about the dangers of misusing the track.

The former head of occupational health and safety agreed. He also thought an anonymous survey of staff could help get to the bottom of whether employees are misusing the track, as has been rumoured in the past.

"I would agree with that. I have used safety surveys in a number of companies I have been with and more information is better," said Ted Graul.

Graul led an an audit after the crash to see whether any rumours of staff sliding down the track on shovels was true.

But he saidafter reviewing documents and speaking with staff, they were following allcorrect procedures and protocols.

To date WinSporthas saidnone of the rumours about unauthorized use of the track have been substantiated.

The Caldwells said WinSport should be commended for the changes they have made and plan to make in the future.

The couple also saidthe inquiry gave them a chance to meet and thank those staff members who responded to the crash. Jason Caldwell saidif it wasn't for their quick response there might have been five people who died on the track instead of two.

"And some of them were heroes," said Jason Caldwell.

"That security guard, that security guard was a hero. She got to the top of the hill and let in that ambulance and you know three lives were saved because of her quick response."

Keelaghan will now review the testimony to complete a report and possibly make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

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