Feds sue company, truck driver over fiery B.C. highway crash

The federal government is suing an oil and gas service company to recover costs related to a fiery crash two years ago that significantly damaged a bridge in northern B.C.

In August 2022, a commercial tanker truck carrying flammable natural gas liquid collided with the Sikanni Chief Bridge along a stretch of Highway 97 known as the Alaska Highway. This set off an explosion with "massive flames and a lot of black clouds" at the time, according to an RCMP officer.

The truck driver died at the scene, and the collision temporarily restricted traffic on a primary route that allowed people in Fort Nelson to access goods and services from Fort St. John and other communities. It also caused structural damage to the bridge which the federal government says it's still working to fix.

Now, the attorney general of Canada is suing Troyer Ventures Ltd., the company that owns the tanker truck, for damages, losses and expenses related to the repair costs. The lawsuit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court on May 31. 

Troyer Ventures, which operates in B.C. and Alberta, has not responded to requests for comment. 

The government is also suing the estate of truck driver John Olson.

The estate's administrator didn't respond to requests to comment. Olson's family declined to comment.

As of June 6, the company and the estate's administrator have yet to file a statement of defence.

Effort to repair bridge ongoing: lawsuit

In its lawsuit, the federal government doesn't pinpoint exactly what caused the truck to crash into the bridge. 

Instead, it alleges that negligence from both the company and the driver "caused or contributed to" the crash and the resulting fire. 

The statement of claim says Troyer Ventures allegedly failed to check that the truck was "mechanically sound," inspect its brakes and ensure that the driver was properly trained for transporting dangerous goods.

It also includes a long list of alleged errors made by Olson, ranging from neglecting to ensure the truck was sound and operating "while his ability to drive was impaired by fatigue or other factors."

These claims have not been proven in court. 

The lawsuit says the effort to repair the bridge is ongoing and final expenses will be provided at trial.

"Canada anticipates that future damages and expenses to repair the Sikanni Chief Bridge will consist of further engineering services and further construction services and costs," says the lawsuit. 

The repair is currently costing Canadian taxpayers around $4.25 million, according to the government's project overview, which was last updated in March. It says the government anticipates completing the project this spring. 

"An inspection and monitoring program is ongoing to ensure the condition of the bridge doesn't change until the permanent repairs are completed," the lawsuit says.

'The problem lies with enforcement'

The issue of trucking safety has received more attention in recent years. 

Dave Earle, the CEO and president of the B.C. Trucking Association, which represents 26,000 workers operating 14,000 transport trucks in the province, said B.C. tightly regulates the industry, including requiring semi-annual inspections for larger vehicles instead of the annual requirement in other jurisdictions.

The problem lies with enforcement, he said. 

"There's just not enough people to make sure that this work is being done," Earle said, adding that this challenge is common across the country. 

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a statement to CBC News that the agency responsible for commercial vehicle safety and enforcement has 200 operational positions, which include roadside enforcement and fixed inspection stations. It says the figure is consistent with staffing over the last decade.  

The statement says it is continually recruiting new staff around the province.

However, Earle applauds the province's decision to publicize its efforts to rein in and cancel the licences of "unethical operators." 

"We're seeing that as a really, really good start," he said. "We just got to keep going in the right direction."