BOYLE — A Devon-based oil and gas company received a financial slap on the wrist in court after a late 2023 commercial vehicle rollover near Grassland was not reported to authorities.
In Boyle Court of Justice April 23, Ron Norris, owner of Legend Oilfield Services (LOS) pleaded guilty to one count of contravening part three of the Traffic Safety Act as part of a joint submission with Crown prosecutor Taylor Noble.
Justice Robert Shaigec accepted the submission and handed Norris, who represented himself in court with direction from his lawyer, a $405 fine for the offence.
As part of the submission, LOS’s original charge of an owner failing to provide required information was changed to a charge under section 71 subsection three of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act.
The new charge falls under the reports of drivers regarding accidents section, which indicates reports of accidents must be made by the vehicle’s owner, if different than the operator, immediately upon learning of the accident.
“It’s the same fine, but perhaps a more correct version of events captured under this charge,” said Noble.
The facts
Noble told court on December 7, 2023, Boyle RCMP requested the support of the Sheriff Highway Patrol in responding to a one-vehicle collision involving a commercial truck hauling dangerous goods on township road 683 west of Grassland.
When officers arrived, they determined the vehicle had been in the ditch long enough for the engine to cool down. The investigation determined the vehicle had rolled over at approximately 7:30 p.m. the previous evening, Dec. 6.
Responding officers checked if any accidents had been reported to the Boyle RCMP, the Athabasca County Community Peace Officer department, and Alberta Environmental and Dangerous Goods Emergencies, and found no reports had been made.
The driver of the vehicle reported the accident to dispatch and was picked up from the scene by a company safety advisor, who transported the driver to the Devon, Alta. hospital. Company arrangements were made to unload the trailer contents and remove the truck from the ditch, which was later determined to be a write-off.
“Through all the evidence collected by (the sheriffs), the company would have been aware that the vehicle was involved in an accident,” said Noble.
