Overpass strike is B.C. company's sixth 'infrastructure' crash in 2 years: ministry
The province has taken all 65 trucks in a company's fleet off of the road following Thursday's crash into an overpass in Delta.
Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. has had its safety certificate yanked by the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch, according to an update from the transportation minister. The suspension comes into effect Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Rob Fleming says this is the sixth "infrastructure crash" for this company in the past two years.
"This suspension is a result of the company's unwillingness or inability to operate safely within the province," he wrote in a statement.
"We recently announced increased fines and the ability to ground fleets through suspensions like this, so highway traffic keeps moving safely and reliably for travellers and commercial vehicles, and people can count on their commute."
Fleming stressed that the majority of drivers and companies operate safely, but that stiffer penalties and harsher consequences that were recently announced are necessary to prevent and deter these costly crashes.
Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd., in a statement to CTV News, said the company received a call from the driver about the load being oversized eight minutes before the crash and was advised to wait for a permit and route directions but failed to do so.
"We are disappointed in this driver’s non-compliance as we have been working hard with CVSE and the Ministry of Transportation over the past two years," a spokesperson wrote.
"Our company has an exemplary safety rating and has been in compliance with all safety regulations. At this time, we are cooperating with all investigating agencies and no further comment will be provided."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Jonathan Szekeres
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Trudeau says not 'a snowball's chance' Canada would become part of U.S.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 'there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,' on the same day U.S. President-elect Donald Trump declared that he’s open to using 'economic force' to acquire Canada.
Trump refuses to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security.
Canada has a navy ship near China. Here's what it's like on board
CTV National News is on board the HMCS Ottawa, embedded with Canadian Navy personnel and currently documenting their work in the East China Sea – a region where China is increasingly flexing its maritime muscle. This is the first of a series of dispatches from the ship.
As walking pneumonia rates drop among Canadian children, flu and RSV are back
Following a sharp rise, cases of walking pneumonia across Canada, particularly among children, seem to be dropping.
2 sons of Mexican cartel leader 'El Chapo' are in plea negotiations with U.S., attorneys say
Two sons of notorious Mexican drug kingpin 'El Chapo' facing sweeping drug-trafficking charges in the U.S. are in plea negotiations with the federal government, attorneys acknowledged Tuesday in a Chicago courtroom.
Ontario launches border-strengthening operation as Trump tariff threat looms
The Ontario government says it has launched an operation intended to beef up security along the border with the United States.
Aubrey Plaza addresses 'unimaginable tragedy' of losing her husband
Aubrey Plaza has shared her first statement since the death of her husband, writer and director Jeff Baena.
CRA to continue with capital tax changes despite prorogation: finance department
The federal government says the Canada Revenue Agency will continue to administer the capital gains tax, even though it hasn't passed in Parliament, which is prorogued until March 24.
Justin Trudeau's set to go after the Liberals pick his replacement, what now?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announcing Monday that he intends to resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as his party names his replacement, has set a series of political machinations in motion.