Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Apr 21/00) - The Alberta trucker who was driving a 61,000-kilogram fuel truck when it crashed through the Mackenzie River ice crossing in January has been fined $4,000.

Daniel Archambault, of Benalto, Alta., appeared for sentencing in Fort Providence territorial court Wednesday.

Archambault's Super B tanker, which is owned by Alberta-based Petro-Haul, went through the ice Jan. 17, 2000. The crossing was open to a load limit of 4,000 kilograms but Archambault was carrying 48,000 litres of diesel fuel in his north-bound rig.

"The circumstances of the case indicate he was led astray or got off the beaten path as a result of a series of errors," said Cpl. Rod Tiller who attended the scene in January and testified in court earlier this week. Archambault did not appear in court but had counsel appear on his behalf.

Archambault was charged with dangerous driving and operating a motor vehicle exceeding the maximum weight on a seasonal highway and pleaded guilty to the latter. The dangerous driving charge was dropped. In the process of a summary conviction, the maximum penalty Archambault could have faced on a dangerous driving charge would be a $2,000 fine. Under the seasonal highway regulation section, the fine was doubled and Archambault was also required to pay a 15 per cent victim surcharge, or $600.

When the incident occurred, the crossing was closed to traffic for 48 hours while the rig and pump fuel were removed from the tanks to ensure there was no leakage into the river. The two trailer units were partially submerged in the river while the cab remained on the surface.

Archambault was able to escape unharmed but had to walk some distance in -35 C weather. He was treated for hypothermia at the Fort Providence nursing station.