The family of Baeleigh Dubois anxiously await answers. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Tragic events

‘I want people to know that this is a crime’: family releases security camera footage of young girl’s final moments

Jan 10, 2022 | 5:50 PM

Nearly four months after the death of a nine-year-old girl in Saskatoon, a video has been uploaded to social media showing what may have been her final moments of happiness, before being struck by a vehicle.

The one minute video, released by the family, had as of Monday afternoon been shared over 1,500 times. The girl’s mother Rochelle Dubois, who lived in Prince Albert prior to moving to Saskatoon six years ago, told paNOW she felt compelled to release the video.

“I want people to know that this is a crime and the police are not treating it as one,” she said.

On the morning of Sept. 9, around 9 a.m., young Baeleigh was on her scooter, and on her way to her aunt’s house. In the video she can be seen making her way down the sidewalk before crossing 33rd street at a marked crosswalk.

The next few seconds are tough to watch as a truck speeding down the street hits the young girl in the middle of the road. Baeleigh, who at the time was 17 days away from celebrating her birthday, was according to police pronounced deceased in hospital. Although the mother said in a Facebook post that her daughter died at the scene after being tossed 20 feet, suffering trauma from her head, to her finger and toe nails.

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Added to the mother’s frustration is the feeling that everything is being done in the investigation to somehow find her daughter at fault, adding her own attempts to get her daughter’s autopsy results have been met with resistance.

“The coroner told me I wasn’t allowed to have it because of the police investigation and 24 hours later I was emailed the autopsy anyway so it makes me think something really is going on,” she said.

A screenshot from the video. (Facebook/ Rochelle Dubois)

In a strongly worded letter to Saskatoon’s Chief of Police, Dubois asks when criminal charges will be brought forth against the person who caused the death of her baby girl.

“I am demanding, you, as the Chief of Police to take active measures immediately to investigate why there has been no action taken into why the driver of the vehicle has not yet been charged. Your department was provided with the video footage within 24 hours of my baby’s death,” she wrote. “That video footage clearly demonstrates the driver’s negligent driving is what killed my baby girl.”

Dubois also explains in her letter that as a mother whose baby was taken so tragically, she has endured extreme anxiety, stress, sleepless nights, and mental anguish thinking about the investigation.

“It is exhausting and frustrating leaving messages with your staff and not be given the respect to have my calls returned in a timely manner,” she said.

Response from police

On Monday, in a statement provided to the media, the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) confirmed the investigation remains active and ongoing.

“Specialized investigators with the Collision Analyst Unit are currently waiting on the results of toxicology, which were submitted to an RCMP forensics lab. While investigators are still waiting for results from the scientific analysis, the majority of the technical investigation is nearing completion,” the SPS advised.

The statement goes on to explain that collisions, especially fatal collisions, are some of the most complex in policing. Scene examination, they added, involves much more than just personal observation; photography is employed at ground level, as well as aerial, and forensic maps are created to assist the post-scene investigation when determining the actions of everyone involved in or around the incident.

“This includes identifying any obstructions (e.g. vehicles, buildings) in the immediate vicinity. Measurements are key in attempting to determine vehicle and pedestrian speeds. All of this information will be necessary should an investigation result in charges and proceed through the court process,” the SPS said.

The police service also explained decisions relating to criminal charges cannot be made until these results are received; and once results are available, police work in consultation with Crown Prosecutors to determine the nature and extent of any charges to be laid.

“The families of the deceased rightfully have questions, and part of our job is to address their concerns and provide the answers they deserve,” the SPS said.

Acknowledging the pain the family is going through waiting for answers, the police service advised they have been offering support through victims services.

A picture of a vigil set up last month. (Facebook)

The City reviewing new measure to improve safety

Following the events that happened on Sept. 9, 2021, the Hudson Bay Park/Mayfair/Kelsey Woodlawn Community Association (CA), made a number of recommendations to the city, with respect to safety improvements.

These recommendations include better signage to notify drivers where a crosswalk is located, and to make the crosswalks themselves more visible through a fresh paint job and brighter colours.

On the agenda during Monday’s meeting of the Standing Policy Committee, was a special report that reviews the work that has been done in this corridor.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell