Coroner’s Inquest into Chatham crash expected to wrap up soon

TORONTO (June 27, 2000) — The coroner’s inquest into last September’s fiery crash on Highway 401 near Chatham, Ont., (dubbed Carnage Alley by some) is expected to wrap up next Wednesday or Thursday.

That means that the inquest will last only about two weeks -about six weeks less than anticipated. The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has legal standing at the inquest and its legal advisor, John Douma, has been at the inquest every day, which is being held in Windsor, Ont. The OTA’s vice president, Barrie Montague, also provided expert testimony this week.

While it would be inappropriate to try and pre-judge what recommendations the jury will make, testimony to date seems to have focussed on the foggy conditions that were present at the time of the crash and photo radar, according to an OTA report. The trucks involved in the crash have been vindicated. They were not speeding or tailgating and were in compliance with maintenance standards. There was no evidence that fatigue was a contributing factor.