Multiple charges laid against man in crash that killed 2 B.C. teens

UPDATE — July 4, 2024: A report made public late last week from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) says the crash was not caused by the police officer who attempted to pull over Cory Brown's vehicle.

Charges have been laid against a 27-year-old man accused of causing a crash last July that killed Vancouver-area teenagers Samir Ali and Yasbrat Habtamu. 

Cory Brown faces two counts of criminal negligence causing death, one count of driving while disqualified, and one count of flight from police.

"It's left such a huge hole in the community," Const. Amanda Steed told CBC News. "Both boys were very active in their communities — pillars in their communities, on soccer scholarships.

"They had so many places they were headed."

She said officers were returning to headquarters in New Westminster on July 26, 2022, when they attempted to pull over a person suspected of driving erratically.

After the suspect sped off, she said his vehicle collided at a Burnaby intersection with the car carrying the two teenagers. 

Police and bystanders tried unsuccessfully to save the teens, and Steed said two people in the suspect's car ran away before they were caught a short time later, though no charges were recommended against the passenger who fled.

Brown remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on July 19.

"He failed to stop for the police officers for the traffic stop," Steed said. "The result of that was the motor vehicle accident that killed those two boys.

"This type of profound loss is felt by everyone involved — all the first responders, the families, everyone who attended that scene that day ... Something like this, you never forget."

At the time, friends and family said Habtamu had recently made the Burnaby District Metro Soccer Men's team and described him as "a great role model." 

Ali was described on an online fundraising page as "compassionate, friendly, bright, wise beyond his years" and a beloved member of his community, where he regularly volunteered. 

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) said earlier it was conducting a separate inquiry to determine whether police actions played a role in the collision.