Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Columbia Fuels Offers Compensation


Fuel Truck Fiasco Follow Up

The fuel tanker crash that closed the Malahat and caused extreme damage to the neighouring watercourse has resulted in the company who owns the truck offering to compensate travelers for legitimate expenses they incurred as a result.
Andrea Voysey a director at Columbia Fuels is reported to say that Columbia Fuels recognizes the trouble caused by the closure and inconvenience caused travelers by the accident. The company will be hiring an independent adjudicator to handle claims and settle expenses filed by travelers as a result of the highway closure.
The fuel spill which resulted from the accident required an emergency response team to excavate toxic soil in an area 50 metres long and two and a half metres wide and one metre deep. Due to dangerous gas fumes in the area, vehicles had to be kept back from the scene and the actual removal of the heavy vehicle took far longer than anticipated.
The driver of the fuel truck who I believe lives in Nanaimo is suspected of being drunk at the time of the crash. Maybe all such vehicles should have those ignition safety locks on them from now on as this type of incident is quite upsetting. You would like to think that 'professional' drivers hauling dangerous cargo on a B Train were above driving while drunk, but clearly that is not always the case.
This relatively minor incident, clearly demonstrates just how unprepared emergency teams are when it comes to dealing with a real life disaster that is well beyond the norm.

allvoices

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