Worker ‘didn’t set brakes’ on train in fatal Canadian crash

An employee failed to properly set the brakes of the train that crashed into a town in Quebec, killing at least 15 people, the president of the railway's parent company says.

Edward Burkhardt made the comments during a visit to the town of Lac-Megantic which was devastated by the runaway oil train four days ago.

Dozens of bodies are feared buried in the burned-out ruins.

“It was questionable whether hand brakes were put in place at this time,” Mr Burkhardt said. “I don’t think any employees removed brakes. They failed to set the brakes.”

He said a train engineer has been suspended without pay.

Earlier a criminal investigation was opened into the crash. Quebec police Inspector Michel Forget said that investigators have “discovered elements” that have led to a criminal inquiry in Lac-Megantic.

He gave no details but ruled out terrorism and said police are more likely to explore the possibility of criminal negligence. Provincial police spokesman Sergeant Benoit Richard said no arrests have been made.

Investigators zeroed in on whether a fire on the train a few hours before the disaster set off a deadly chain of events that has raised questions about the safety of transporting oil in North America by rail instead of pipeline.

The unmanned Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway train broke loose early on Saturday and sped downhill in the darkness about 12km before jumping the tracks at 100km/h near the Maine border. All but one of the 73 cars were carrying oil. At least five exploded.

Rail dispatchers had no chance to warn anyone during the train’s 18-minute journey because they did not know it was happening themselves, Transportation Safety Board officials said. Such warning systems are not in place on secondary rail lines, said TSB manager Ed Belkaloul.

The derailment and explosions destroyed about 30 buildings, including the Musi-Cafe, a popular bar that was filled at the time, and forced about a third of the town’s 6,000 residents from their homes.

The same train caught fire hours earlier in a nearby town, and the engine was shut down — standard operating procedure dictated by the train’s owners, Nantes Fire Chief Patrick Lambert said.

AP