Canadian runaway train disaster firm faces criminal charges

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/13/canadian-runaway-train-disaster-firm-criminal-charges-lac-megantic
<snip>
The railway company and three of its employees involved in a massive explosion of a runaway oil train that incinerated much of a small town in Quebec last July, killing 47 people, will face criminal negligence charges, provincial prosecutors have said.

The charges come 10 months after more than 60 of the tankers carrying oil from North Dakota came loose in the middle of the night, sped downhill for nearly seven miles (11km) and derailed in the town of Lac-Megantic in eastern Quebec. At least five of the tankers exploded, destroying about 30 buildings, including a bar filled with revellers.

The Quebec provincial prosecutor's office said 47 counts of criminal negligence have been filed against engineer Thomas Harding, manager of train operations Jean Demaitre, and Richard Labrie, who was in charge of rail circulation, as well as the now-defunct Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway Ltd. The criminal charges, the first to be brought, represent one count for each person killed.

The environmental cleanup could end up costing between $200m and $500m, with only $25m in insurance payouts available for wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, fire suppression and environmental impact.

[polly7]

1. A bit more on it here:

Element of surprise over charges

Vanessa Lee says families are surprised over news that three people have been charged in the Lac-Megantic train derailment.

CTVNews.ca
May 13, 2014|1 2 3 4 5|Share this via

http://video.theloop.ca/watch/element-of-surprise-over-charges/3562035010001?sort=date&page=1#.U3IQ_vldUkV

[malaise]

2. Thanks for that link

[polly7]

3. Yvw, malaise ..

I was a bit surprised too, that they'd gotten enough evidence sorted out to charge them already. I guess it has been nearly 10 months ... it seems like yesterday though.

[malaise]

4. It won't bring back their relatives, friends or town

but hopefully it will stop future corporate irresponsibility.

[polly7]

5. We can definitely wish! nt.

[Downwinder]

6. The regulators that allowed one man crews and the

owner who staffed one man crews get a bye.

[malaise]

7. They have regulators??