All criminal charges have now been dismissed in connection with a fatal crash along the TCH near Paddy’s Pond three years ago.

Eric Shea of St. John’s and Mackenzie Sparrow of Brigus, both 21 at the time, were allegedly racing their cars side by side when Sparrow lost control and collided head-on with an ATV rider on the shoulder of the highway.

The 50-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Sparrow and a passenger in his car were also injured.

Four months later, both Sparrow and Shea were charged with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

But both charges were dismissed against Shea in late 2022, and it was the same story today for Sparrow.

Court was told that the author of the RCMP report into the crash and charges had identified issues regarding the “methodology” used, and no longer supported the findings of the report.

With that, defence lawyer Robert Hoskins made a motion for acquittal, and with no evidence to convict, Judge Jacqueline Brazil dismissed the charges.