Video played during guilty plea showing efforts of first responders to save girl's life after crash
Duane Arlen John Nepoose pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in Boxing Day crash
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.
Speeds reached 170 km/h
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.
Officer tries to save girl
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.
In the back seat, with deployed airbags filling much of the car, Victoria sat, unconscious, wearing a pink and purple sweatsuit.
Hovdebo can be seen checking for a pulse. When he didn't find one, he gently lifted the child out of the car and placed her on the ground, beginning CPR.
Victoria died hours later
Eventually, the footage shows a firefighter taking over.
Hovdebo heads to other vehicles to check on victims. His body-worn camera footage shows a chaotic scene of smashed cars, first responders, injured victims and passers-by, trying to help.
When he returns to the Vibe, Amanda Reitmeier can be heard wailing.
Both Reitmeier and her older daughter Madison Desjardins, 12, were badly injured.
Reitmeier suffered a fractured pelvis, liver contusions and spinal fractures. She remained in hospital for two weeks.
Madison suffered a fractured vertebrae and a Grade 3 concussion.
Despite the efforts of first responders and doctors who performed surgery on Victoria, the girl died eight hours after the crash.
Both parents were by her side.
Justice Indra Maharaj will hear sentencing arguments from defence lawyers Rebecca Snukal and Sam Taylor and prosecutor Todd Buziak at a later date.
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