Teenagers fall `freak accident'
The Calgary Herald
Mon Jul 2 1990
Page: B2
Section: City
Byline: Rick Mofina

Jason William Bailey, a former high school athlete, has been named as one of two teens who fell to their deaths from an eighth-floor apartment balcony in a weekend tragedy.

"It was just a real freak accident," Jason's father, Bill told the Herald Sunday from Red Deer.

Jason, 19, and a 17-year-old girl died Friday night after falling from the Checkmate Court Apartment building in Red Deer.

They and friends were set to go to a high school grad party when the girl - a friend's girlfriend - jumped into Jason's arms while he stood on the balcony, his father said.

"He's six-feet-five inches tall and her momentum carried them both over," he said.

"Jason was well-liked. He really got along with everyone," said his father. Jason, who played sports in high school, was working as a produce manager trainee at an IGA store in Red Deer.

Red Deer police have ruled out foul play and are treating the deaths as accidental.

The incident occurred about 10:30 p.m. Friday and the pair were pronounced dead on arrival at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

Police have not released the girl's name because of difficulty reaching her family.

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Teens' rites today
The Calgary Herald
Wed Jul 4 1990
Page: B4
Section: News
Byline: Sue Craig

Funeral services will be held today for two Red Deer teens who died after a game ended tragically.

Jason William Bailey, 19, and Shona Melane Jensen, 17, fell eight floors to their deaths late Saturday night.

"She was chasing him and came out on to the balcony and bumped into him. It was truly a misadventure," said Sgt. Jim Pilson of the Red Deer City police.

The balcony has a concrete wall and when Jensen jumped towards Bailey his attempt to catch her pulled them both over the wall.

Pilson said spirits were high among the teens but alcohol was not a direct contributing factor to the accident.

Bailey's father, Bill, is devastated. "He was such a liked boy and his death is a great loss to everyone," he said, noting the support from the community has been tremendous.

Len Luders, the principal at the school Bailey attended, said the youth got along with almost everyone and will leave a great void in the community.

Bob Kruchten, the principal at Camille J. Lerouge Collegiate, where Jensen was a student, said her death will be a blow to the school. "She was a really super girl.

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Playful leap into friend's arms preceded fall - victim's dad The Edmonton Journal Tue Jul 3 1990
Page: B14
Byline: HELEN PLISCHKE Journal Staff Writer
Dateline: Edmonton
Source: THE EDMONTON JOURNAL

Edmonton

A playful jump into the arms of a friend caused two teenagers to fall to their deaths from an eighth floor balcony in Red Deer.

Nineteen-year-old Jason William Bailey and Shona Melane Jensen, 17, fell off the balcony Friday after Jensen made a leap into Bailey's arms, his father said Sunday.

Jason was standing with his back to the 1.3-metre-high railing with his arms out to catch the girl, Bill Bailey said.

"She was going to take a running jump and jump into his arms. The momentum just carried them over backwards."

The pair were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital in the central Alberta city shortly after 10:30 p.m.

"It's like a dream. A bad one. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and nothing will have happened," Bailey said.

Jason Bailey had joined four friends in the suite at 4902 37th St. and was getting ready to go to a high school graduation party, he said.

Jensen was the girlfriend of a man who lived in the apartment, Bailey said.

The group had just returned from the pool in the building when Jason went out onto the balcony, he said.

The whole family is in shock over such a freak accident, Bailey said, and wonder if Jason may have saved himself had he not been so tall.

"The thing that gets me is, if he hadn't been six foot five this wouldn't have happened.

"He was a beautiful person. Everybody knew Jason. He was just a really fun-loving guy."