After nine days of deliberations, a jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty acquitting three former Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway for role in the fatal explosion in Lac-Mégantic five years ago.
Locomotive engineer Tom Harding, 56, rail traffic controller Richard Labrie, 59, and operations manager Jean Demaitre, 53, were charged with criminal negligence in the disaster that killed 47 people after tankers carrying crude oil exploded in downtown Lac-Mégantic.
Transport Canada Minister Marc Garneau extended his sympathies to the families and friends of the 47 people who lost their lives, and to the others whose lives were forever changed.
Garneau adds his department is constantly working to improve rail safety, including launching a program last Fall addressing fatigue management, and increasing funding for projects enhancing safety.
He also launched a review of the Railway Safety Act with a focus on examining the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of existing regulations.
Full details of changes made to improve rail safety can be found HERE.
(Photo credit: NASA)
