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Interpaving and city both charged in pedestrian death

City will be "vigorously defending the charges laid by the Ministry of Labour"

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has laid charges against the City of Greater Sudbury and Interpaving Ltd. in the death of a pedestrian in September, 2015.

The charges come as the one year anniversary of the death of 58-year-old Cécile Paquette approaches, she was killed last year at the corner of Elgin and Beech Street and her family is suing the city, Interpaving Ltd. and the driver of a road grader for $2 million.

The accident cost Paquette her life, and Interpaving was barred from bidding on road work contracts in the city of Greater Sudbury.

"Leading up to the one year anniversary of the fatal incident on Elgin Street, we offer our sincere condolences to the friends and family of the woman who lost her life," said a statement from the City. 

"The City of Greater Sudbury will be vigorously defending the charges laid by the Ministry of Labour stemming from the Sept. 30, 2015 incident."

Interpaving is charged with not providing signallers for the grader operator, not erecting a 1.8 metre "sturdy fence" to separate the public from the construction site and not implementing a traffic protection plan.

The city faces the same three offences, as well as not ensuring that its contractor Interpaving was following those three sections of the health and safety act.

The city is also facing an additional charge of not ensuring that all "workers and employers" were following provincial safety laws in general.

"We are not in a position to comment further as the matter is before the courts," said the city's statement.

Interpaving has not yet been reached for comment on these charges.


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