A young man involved in a collision near Thompson River University on November 29 has been identified as Riley Brinnen, a resident of Kelowna. Brinnen, who plays for the TRU men’s volleyball team, was one of seven individuals taken to the hospital after the devastating crash. The accident led to the closure of the intersection of University Drive and McGill Road in Kamloops for several hours. According to a GoFundMe campaign set up for Brinnen, he was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital and underwent surgery on November 30. Following the operation, he was placed in the spinal intensive care unit. Courtney Hannigan, the organizer of the fundraiser, describes Brinnen as an incredibly kind-hearted individual. Brinnen discovered his passion for volleyball during his time in high school and secured a place on TRU’s team after graduating from Kelowna Secondary School in 2020. Currently pursuing a psychology degree, Brinnen is in his fourth year of university. Although he is on the path to recovery, it is expected that he will need to spend several months in Vancouver for medical treatment and rehabilitation. With a target of $65,000, the fundraiser aims to cover the costs of Brinnen’s medical care, family travel expenses, and other essentials as he rebuilds his life. Tragically, Brinnen’s teammate, Owyn McInnis, lost his life in the accident. Another member of the TRU men’s volleyball team also sustained injuries. For more information, please refer to the article linked below.
