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Negligence Charges Brought in Quebec Derailment and Fire Negligence Charges Brought in Quebec Derailment and Fire
(4 months later)
OTTAWA — The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway and three of its employees have been charged with criminal negligence in connection with a derailment that killed 47 people and incinerated much of downtown Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, last July, officials said on Monday. OTTAWA — The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway and three of its employees have been charged with criminal negligence in connection with a derailment that killed 47 people and incinerated much of downtown Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, last July, officials said on Monday.
In a brief statement, the office of Quebec’s director of criminal prosecutions said that Thomas Harding, the engineer and sole employee working on the train, was among those arrested.In a brief statement, the office of Quebec’s director of criminal prosecutions said that Thomas Harding, the engineer and sole employee working on the train, was among those arrested.
Federal accident investigators have found that Mr. Harding failed to apply the minimum number of required hand brakes after parking the train for the night. The train was carrying crude oil from North Dakota.Federal accident investigators have found that Mr. Harding failed to apply the minimum number of required hand brakes after parking the train for the night. The train was carrying crude oil from North Dakota.
A fire in the locomotive led to the loss of the train’s air brakes. Combined with the lack of hand brakes, that eventually allowed the train to run out of control into the town. The unexpectedly volatile nature of the Bakken crude oil led to a series of intense explosions and fires when the train derailed in the town’s center.A fire in the locomotive led to the loss of the train’s air brakes. Combined with the lack of hand brakes, that eventually allowed the train to run out of control into the town. The unexpectedly volatile nature of the Bakken crude oil led to a series of intense explosions and fires when the train derailed in the town’s center.
Also charged were Jean Demaître, who was the rail line’s manger of train operations, and Richard Labrie, its rail traffic controller.Also charged were Jean Demaître, who was the rail line’s manger of train operations, and Richard Labrie, its rail traffic controller.
Several Canadian news outlets reported that the three men have been detained by the Quebec provincial police and will appear in court on Tuesday.Several Canadian news outlets reported that the three men have been detained by the Quebec provincial police and will appear in court on Tuesday.
Headquartered in Hermon, Me., the railway was owned by Rail World of Rosemont, Ill., at the time of the derailment. It subsequently declared bankruptcy, and is in the process of being sold to Railroad Acquisition Holdings, which is based in New York.Headquartered in Hermon, Me., the railway was owned by Rail World of Rosemont, Ill., at the time of the derailment. It subsequently declared bankruptcy, and is in the process of being sold to Railroad Acquisition Holdings, which is based in New York.
The disaster led to increased testing of crude oil from the Bakken fields before shipping, after accident investigators found it could be as volatile as gasoline. Canada also recently announced a series of safety measures that include phasing out older tank cars like those involved in the derailment. Their design has long been criticized for bursting too easily in derailments.The disaster led to increased testing of crude oil from the Bakken fields before shipping, after accident investigators found it could be as volatile as gasoline. Canada also recently announced a series of safety measures that include phasing out older tank cars like those involved in the derailment. Their design has long been criticized for bursting too easily in derailments.