Snyder's family forgives teammate for his death

ELMIRA, ONTARIO - The family of Dan Snyder, the Atlanta Thrashers player who died after a car crash, said they forgive teammate Dany Heatley for his death. <br> <br> Heatley was the driver of the Ferrari early Sept. 29 when he lost control and ran off the road. Heatley, who was also injured, was charged with vehicular homicide. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re going to do everything we can for this boy,&#39;&#39; said Graham Snyder, Dan Snyder&#39;s father, who lives in Elmira. ``This has been a tragedy and we&#39;ve lost our son. But to lose another person (by putting Heatley in jail) would just be senseless. That shouldn&#39;t happen. He&#39;s already going to have awful memories of this.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Heatley plans to accompany Thrashers players to Elmira for Dan Snyder&#39;s funeral Friday. Snyder died Sunday. <br> <br> ``We really wanted him to be here,&#39;&#39; Graham Snyder told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ``It&#39;s important for him to see this and have closure and say his goodbyes. ... We want to let him know he&#39;s forgiven.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Others in the community who knew Snyder said they don&#39;t want Heatley to be the target of blame. The front page of the local newspaper, The Record, carried a story headlined ``Elmira Forgives Heatley.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> ``I&#39;m not aware of any resentment. People here see this as a tragedy and an accident,&#39;&#39; said Dave Officer, a teacher, counselor, hockey coach and Snyder family friend. ``We don&#39;t look down on people. ... I just can&#39;t imagine the pain Dany Heatley is going through.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Dan Snyder&#39;s brother, Jake, said the family sympathizes with Heatley and his parents. <br> <br> ``We feel maybe a different pain than they do right now. But we feel for both the parents and their son,&#39;&#39; Jake Snyder said. ``My brother talked about Dany constantly. Dany was so special to my brother. He&#39;d want us to help him get through a difficult time.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Snyders talk to Heatley&#39;s parents at least twice a day, they said. <br> <br> ``We&#39;ve told them, &#39;Don&#39;t lay blame.&#39; Dan wouldn&#39;t have been with him that night if they weren&#39;t friends and he didn&#39;t&#39; trust him. We&#39;ll be there for him,&#39;&#39; Graham Snyder said.