Hydro One workers killed in 2017 helicopter crash were proud employees, inquest hears
Hydro One employees killed in a December 2017 helicopter crash in eastern Ontario were remembered by their families as proud tradespeople with "lifetimes ahead of them," as an inquest into their deaths opened Monday.
Four Hydro One employees -- 39-year-old James Baragar, 27-year-old Kyle Shorrock and 26-year-olds Jeff Howes and Darcy Jansen -- were working on a transmission tower in Tweed, Ont., and later crashed when the chopper carrying them was approaching to land.
Baragar's parents, Don and Barb, said their son loved cottage trips and swimming in his backyard pool with his wife and two kids, whom he taught how to snowboard and motorbike.
"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," Baragar's mother told the inquest, choking up at times. "Workers need to be protected, they need to be respected, they need to be heard."
The inquest jury heard that pilot Baragar picked up power line technicians Shorrock, Howes and Jansen shortly before noon on Dec. 14, 2017, and as the helicopter entered a staging area, witnesses heard a loud noise and saw a tool bag fall out of the aircraft and hit the rear rotor. Inquest counsel Kristin Smith said the helicopter then descended nose first into the landing site, where all four workers sustained deadly injuries.
Baragar's parents described their son as an excellent pilot with more than a decade of experience, who always had safety at the top of his mind.
"I know he made every effort to save his coworkers on that terrible day in December 2017," his mother said.
"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 inquest will place a large focus on the procedures related to attaching tool bags to external platforms on Hydro One helicopters, an accepted practice at the time of the deadly crash.
A 2019 report from the Transportation Safety Board found an improperly secured tool bag hit the rear rotor of the helicopter, causing it to crash into the snow-covered field. The TSB's investigation also found carrying external loads attached to the platforms was not a formal company procedure and adequate controls were not in place to ensure objects were properly secured.
The inquest is expected to last 15 days and hear from approximately 10 witnesses, including Hydro One workers who were present on the day of the crash, other helicopter pilots and Transport Canada representatives.
Presiding officer David Eden told the inquest jury its objective is to determine the circumstances surrounding the men's deaths and possibly make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.
Smith told the jury that witnesses will not testify about the crash itself, injuries or the autopsy report as those issues are not in dispute and risk retraumatizing witnesses and family.
Jeff Howes's father Patrick said in a statement read at the inquest that his son was sports-minded and loved competition.
"Jeff was surrounded by friends on Dec. 14, 2017. His fallen coworkers were cut from the same cloth: all proud, Canadian tradespeople," he said.
Darcy Jansen's parents, Brenda and Henry, described the Hydro One workers as "four young, healthy men with lifetimes ahead of them." Jansen had just purchased his first home when he was killed, and they later moved 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," his mother said. "It will be nice to get this inquest behind us and move forward to a new chapter of our lives."
Shorrock's family is involved in the inquest but made a personal decision not to share a statement or his photograph.
The inquest also won't hear whether the three power line technicians were wearing seatbelts given there is no dispute that the impact of the crash would have been fatal regardless, Smith said.
The inquest jury heard that some of the seatbelts in the helicopter's passenger area were unfastened or taped up and Howes, Jansen and Shorrock fell out of the helicopter and sustained fatal injuries from the aircraft or terrain. Baragar remained strapped in his seat and died of injuries in the crash.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.