A second company has been penalized for breaching safety regulations prior to a deadly explosion at the Come By Chance refinery in 2022. The blast led to the tragic death of Shawn Peddle and severe injuries to seven others. Even though the safety proceedings have concluded, Peddle’s widow, Nora Gill-Peddle, expressed her desire for further actions, including criminal charges and a potential inquiry.
Gill-Peddle, alongside other victims’ family members, attended a court session in Clarenville to revisit the distressing events at the refinery. She emphasized the importance of delivering victim impact statements and witnessing the acknowledgment of guilt, offering some form of closure to the affected families.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) initiated an investigation three years ago into potential criminal charges related to the incident. While the RCMP confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, specific details remain undisclosed at this time.
In a separate development, Lorneville Mechanical Contractors, the second company facing safety charges, pleaded guilty to one count in a sentencing hearing presided over by Judge Mark Pike. The company, in collaboration with the Crown, proposed a total financial penalty of $54,500, which the judge approved. This sum included a $25,000 fine, a $7,500 victim fine surcharge, and a $22,000 payment allocated for public education purposes.
During the hearing, prosecutor Shawn Patten highlighted that the tragedy could have been prevented had warning signs been heeded. Lorneville, while working under Braya Renewable Fuels’ direction at the refinery, failed to address evident issues, culminating in the fatal incident. The defense lawyer for Lorneville, Greg Anthony, acknowledged the profound impact of the event on the workers and their loved ones. He attributed the incident to a lapse in judgment rather than a deliberate disregard for safety protocols.
Previously, Braya Renewable Fuels, the refinery operator, was fined $118,000 for safety violations related to the same incident. The court received consistent victim impact statements and additional submissions throughout the sentencing hearings.
Both companies facing penalties have been held accountable for their roles in the tragic event, but the affected families continue to advocate for further actions to ensure justice and prevent similar incidents in the future.