Inquest opens to investigate their tragic deaths and unveil crucial details
An inquest has commenced investigating the deaths of four Hydro One employees who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in eastern Ontario in December 2017.
The families of the victims have come forward to remember their loved ones as proud tradespeople with bright futures ahead of them.
The victims of the crash were identified as James Baragar, Kyle Shorrock, Jeff Howes, and Darcy Jansen, aged 39, 27, and 26 respectively. The four employees were working on a transmission tower in Tweed, Ontario when the helicopter carrying them crashed during the landing approach.
During the inquest, the parents of James Baragar, Don, and Barb, shared their grief and expressed their anger over the loss of their son.
"Jamie's death has also left us with a lot of anger. We are angry because he went to work and didn't come home because his job killed him," said Mrs. Baragar, mother of James. "Workers need to be protected, they need to be respected, they need to be heard."
Witnesses testified that shortly before the crash, a tool bag fell out of the helicopter and hit the rear rotor, causing a loud noise and disruption.
The helicopter then descended nose-first into the landing site, resulting in fatal injuries to all four workers.
James Baragar's parents highlighted his extensive experience as an excellent pilot who always prioritized safety.
"I know he made every effort to save his coworkers on that terrible day in December 2017," said Mrs. Baragar. "After the tail rotor was struck, he was very close to landing before the whole tail rotor broke away from the helicopter and the aircraft became uncontrollable."
The focus of the inquest will be on the procedures related to attaching tool bags to external platforms on Hydro One helicopters, as this was a common practice at the time of the accident.
A 2019 report by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) revealed that an improperly secured tool bag striking the rear rotor caused the crash. The report also highlighted the absence of formal company procedures and adequate controls for securing external loads.
The inquest, expected to last 15 days, will hear from approximately 10 witnesses, including Hydro One workers present at the time of the crash, other helicopter pilots, and representatives from Transport Canada.
The presiding officer, David Eden, emphasized that the objective of the inquest is to determine the circumstances surrounding the men's deaths and make recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
The families of the victims also shared their sentiments about their loved ones.
Patrick Howes, the father of Jeff Howes, described his son as "sports-minded" and "competitive".
Brenda and Henry Jansen, the parents of Darcy Jansen, expressed their grief over losing four young, healthy men with promising futures. They recalled Darcy's recent purchase of his first home and their decision to move in to keep his dream alive.
"It was the hardest day of our lives when the two officers came to our front door with news of the crash. We relive that day over and over," said Mrs. Jansen. "It will be nice to get this inquest behind us and move forward to a new chapter of our lives."
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