Man charged in Foam Lake fatal highway crash granted release

It was a relatively short court appearance Thursday morning for Kelly Knopf, the man charged in the highway crash that killed a woman and her two young daughters over the weekend.

A judge in the Yorkton courtroom granted Knopf’s release with a $20,000 deposit.

Knopf’s lawyer, Brian Pfefferle, said Knopf would be heading back home to South Carolina. He will be treated for the injuries he’d sustained in the crash – he’d been in hospital in Saskatchewan for several days already.

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A statement from Pfefferle called the crash “a terrible tragedy,” and said Knopf intends to comply with the conditions of his release and was grateful the Crown lawyer agreed to his release.

Knopf’s release conditions include a prohibition on possessing any weapons while in Canada, and on occupying the driver’s seat of a vehicle while in Canada.

His release was originally expected to be addressed on Wednesday but was moved to Thursday. The next court date for Knopf is scheduled for January in Wadena.

Knopf is charged with three counts each of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm for the crash on Oct. 2 near Foam Lake.

He’s accused of trying to pass a semi and colliding with an SUV. Amber Olsen and her daughters Everly and Isla were in the SUV and were killed. Shaun Didychuk, Everly and Isla’s father, was also in the SUV and was seriously injured. Two others who were in the truck with Knopf were hurt as well.

Pfefferle had said earlier that Knopf was in Saskatchewan on a hunting trip and that there was no indication that alcohol, drugs or excessive speed were factors in the crash.

Foam Lake

The victims were from Foam Lake, and this week people in the town have been trying to come to grips with the loss.

People were setting stuffed animals on their front steps and flowers on their front steps as a memorial for Amber, Every and Isla.

“It’s been pretty tough for the neighbourhood and the children and family and friends and just our whole community; we are feeling it. It’s tough.

“I take it day by day, keeping Shaun in our thoughts and our prayers, and his family, and Amber and the girls’ family. It’s just devastating. It’s a tragedy,” said Stacie Warren, a community member who knew the family.

By Thursday morning, an online fundraiser for the family had raised nearly $41,000.

– with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk, Libby Gray, and 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie