Catholic School Board charged in Leighton death
Posted Dec 7, 2011 02:52:23 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Catholic School Board is being charged in relation to the death of 18-year-old Eric Leighton, the Mother Teresa High School student killed in a shop class explosion May 26.
Ottawa Fire officials confirm they have charged the board under the Ontario Fire Act under an article that forbids any welding or cutting on a totally enclosed container, like the oil drum Leighton was reportedly working on in class the day of the explosion.
The Catholic board faces a charge that could lead to a maximum $100,000 fine.
No criminal charges are being laid in relation to the explosion and the outcome of the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s investigation has not yet been released. Ottawa Fire said the case is due back in court Dec. 12.
Mother Teresa Catholic School banned all welding in the school following Leighton’s death.
