Alberta driver, trucking company charged in fatal Highway 17 crash
A commercial driver and trucking company from Alberta have been charged in a fatal crash on Highway 17 that killed a 33-year-old man north of Wawa, Ont., in November.
Christian Casavant was a passenger in a pickup truck who was on his way to work for his last night shift shortly before 6 p.m. Nov. 29 when the vehicle collided with a southbound commercial vehicle near the Highway 519 intersection.
Christian 'Chris' Casavant was a volunteer firefighter with Wawa Fire Department. (Supplied)
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now, almost eight months later, Ontario Provincial Police have completed the investigation with the help of Alberta Transportation and Edmonton Police Service.
As a result, a 23-year-old Edmonton resident is charged with careless driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene, along with dozens of offences related to commercial driving regulations.
They include five counts of failing to maintain a daily log, six counts each of failing to record malfunction code information and ensuring ELD is in good working order, two counts each of entering inaccurate information in record and exceeding 13 hours driving time without eight hours off, driving after 14 hours on duty without eight hours off and three counts of driving after 16 hours since last break without eight hours off.
Anttal Transportation of Edmonton is also facing a dozen counts of permitting a person to drive a commercial vehicle not in accordance with regulations.
- Download our app to get alerts sent to your device
- Get the latest newsletter sent right to your inbox
A 30-year-old Edmonton resident is also charged with obstructing a peace officer in connection to the case.
The driver and company are scheduled to appear in court in Wawa on Oct. 5. The other accused is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 14.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
Casavant – a fire service and mine rescue worker -- leaves behind a wife and son. The driver of the pickup truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash while the commercial truck driver was unharmed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'We apologize to anyone we've offended': Bath and Body Works pulls candles over backlash
A major American retailer has stopped selling its new winter-themed candle over backlash from shoppers who said its design resembled Ku Klux Klan hoods.
Canadian drink company tastes controversy after Simu Liu raises cultural appropriation questions
Controversy bubbled for a Canadian drink company after its founders drew the ire of a Marvel superhero on an episode of a 'Shark Tank'-style reality series.
Canadian comedian, talk show host Mike Bullard dead at 67
Canadian stand-up comedian and former talk show host Mike Bullard has died.
China deploys record 125 warplanes in large scale military drill in warning to Taiwan
China employed a record 125 aircraft, as well as its Liaoning aircraft carrier and ships, in large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands Monday, simulating the sealing off of key ports in a move that underscores the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait, officials said.
Scientists claim to solve centuries-old mystery of Christopher Columbus' origins
The 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe, Spanish scientists said on Saturday, after using DNA analysis to tackle a centuries-old mystery.
Woman killed by malfunctioning ottoman bed
A 39-year-old British woman was killed when a malfunctioning ottoman bed fell on her neck and asphyxiated her, a coroner’s report said.
Thousands of kilometres from home, Justin Trudeau learns of dissension in his caucus
The free trade agreement with ASEAN is expected to be signed at the end of 2025. If Trudeau is pressured to step down, or if his government falls and loses the next election, Trudeau will not, as prime minister, be there to see the fruits of his labour.
Warmer than normal temperatures lead to duller fall colours in Ontario
An especially warm fall in Ontario means the province may not get the colourful array of fall foliage that usually transforms treetops this time of year.
WATCH Indian authorities issue warning after leopard spotted sauntering past police station
Indian authorities are warning locals to be careful after a leopard was seen sauntering past a police station late last week.