Criminal negligence charges withdrawn in fatal transport crash on Peacekeepers Way
Crown believed there was no reasonable prospect of conviction
The Crown has withdrawn charges against two of the men accused in the wake of a fatal crash between a transport truck and a sedan nearly three years ago.
Samuel Tessier and Cecil Walsh had both been facing a charge of criminal negligence causing death, after a 56-year-old man was killed on Peacekeepers Way between Minerals Road and Fowler's Road on June 7, 2022.
The truck, driven by Tessier, was heading west, and the car was heading east when they collided head-on.
The 56-year-old man — the driver of the sedan — died at the scene.
In the ensuing investigation, police said they believed the crash was due at least in part to mechanical issues with the transport truck.
Tessier was charged with criminal negligence causing death.
Walsh, one of two mechanics accused in the wake of the crash, was also charged with criminal negligence causing death, along with 59 counts of fraud and 40 counts of uttering a forged document — charges the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said stemmed from required vehicle inspections at a local garage.
But on Monday, Crown prosecutor Alison Doyle withdrew the charges of criminal negligence causing death against the two men.
She said in light of new information received last week, the Crown doesn't believe it had a reasonable prospect of conviction.
Walsh will be back in court later this month to address the fraud and forgery charges.
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