It was a night to begin the future, June 10, 2017. An after grad party, a safe grad for Lanigan High School students. A night that turned fatal when poor choices killed Drew Rossen, 19, and seriously injured Kade Daelick.

Kade Daelick, 19 at the time, was charged with multiple offences including impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death, impaired operation of a motor vehicle (over 80mg) causing death, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

The accident happened at a pre-party immediately before students were to have been transported to a safe grad event. It was then that Daelick took Rossen for a joyride on his ATV not far from the pre-party house. Minutes later, the accident occurred injuring Daelick but tragically ending Rossen's life.

According to Daelick's defence attorney, Brian Pfeferle, a series of considerations delayed the actual court proceedings and led to the determination of the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death being the sole charge. The remaining charges were stayed by the Crown. Pfeferle confides that much of the delay in the proceeding was simply a function of a fair and thorough judicial process. He notes, "The time period alone in processing the toxically may take anywhere be anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. This was a normal length of time."

Pfeferle explained, "A case like this often times involves very significant delays in terms of disclosure, processing, laboratory results. Consequently, Mr. Daelick wasn't charged for some time even though the accident occurred a couple of years ago. He wasn't charged until analysis came back and different crime scene investigations were completed." In the end, the complexity of the forensic evidence and the time for review resulted in the case being pursued only this past week. 

Because there was a debate about the blood alcohol content at the time of the accident, the charge of dangerous driving causing death was imposed. When Daelick pleaded guilty, the Crown and the Defense agreed to pursue a joint submission for a sentence of 21 months in custody, followed by a term of 24 months of probation and community service. Daelick hopes that some of that service will involve communication about the dangers of ATV use without safety measures. 

Pfeferle is generally satisfied with the outcome noting that the guilty plea and the fact that the victim was a friend were somewhat mitigating factors is the sentencing decision. "This is something where, in some respects, the punishment is built into the crime."

Daelick is also subject to a three-year driving ban.