Charges have finally been laid in the July 6, 2013 death of 47 people caused by a runaway train carrying crude oil in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. Prosecutors have laid criminal negligence charges against the railway and three employees connected to the disaster, including the train’s lone engineer. The trio were arrested on Monday May 12, and they were formally charged on Tuesday May 13.
A total of 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death had been filed against engineer Thomas Harding, manager of train operations Jean Demaitre, railway traffic controller Richard Labrie, as well as the Montreal Maine and Atlantic (MMA) Railway Ltd., which declared bankruptcy shortly after the disaster. MMA is in the process of being sold to Railroad Acquisition Holdings LLC, an affiliate of New York-based Fortress Investment Group. The sale is expected to be completed next week.
In addition to killing 47 people, the explosion destroyed 40 buildings and spilled millions of litres of crude oil into the town and nearby lake and river.
© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Related Articles
Massive Oil Spill from Train Derailment in the Town of Lac Megantic
The Dangers of Transporting Fossil Fuels
MMA’s Bankruptcy Protection is Unconscionable
The Rail Company that Decimated the Town of Lac Megantic Quebec Sold at Auction
Transport Canada’s New Train Safety Rules for Transporting Fossil Fuels
Oil Bearing Train Derails and Explodes in New Brunswick
Train Derails Spilling Coal into a BC Waterway
Train Carrying Fossil Fuels Derails Causing an Explosion and Fire in Alberta
Train Derails Spilling Oil in Saskatchewan
Stop Old Trains from Transporting Oil
Video – Train Carrying Oil Derails Illustrating the Dangers of Transporting Fossil Fuels
