In April, a French prosecutor called for suspended sentences against some of the 16 defendants on trial for their alleged responsibility for the Mont Blanc tunnel fire in 1999 that claimed 39 lives (T&TI, February, p14).
The fire is believed to have started on a Volvo lorry carrying flour and margarine. The lorry stopped in the main tunnel, blocking the carriageway as it burned and trapping other vehicles and their passengers. The fire took two days for firefighters to control.
Addressing the court in Bonneville, the prosecutor asked for the charges against Volvo to be thrown out. Talking to the press a spokesman from Volvo expressed satisfaction with the development adding that whilst it was a Volvo truck that burnt, they “haven’t been able to find any system malfunction in it”.
The driver of the truck was less fortunate as a six month suspended sentence was sought against him. The head of security on the French side of the tunnel faces a three year suspended prison sentence and a US$15,500 fine. The prosecution is seeking a two year suspended sentence and US$38,900 fine for the head of the French tunnel operator, ATMB. Representatives of the victims families were said to be disappointed with the weak penalties sought.
The defence lawyers started presenting their case at the end of April, a verdict is expected in July.
