RCMP investigate complaint truck involved with SWN exploration work struck three women
The New Brunswick RCMP is investigating allegations a pick-up truck involved with SWN Resources Canada’s controversial shale gas exploration work in New Brunswick struck three women on a highway during demonstrations Monday.
(RCMP officers line up in front of SWN Resources Canada’s ‘thumper’ trucks Monday. Photo courtesy of Angeline Purcell)
APTN National News
The New Brunswick RCMP is investigating allegations a pick-up truck involved with SWN Resources Canada’s controversial shale gas exploration work in New Brunswick struck three women on a highway during demonstrations Monday.
RCMP Const. Damian Theriault said RCMP officers received a complaint from the scene that the women had been hit by the truck.
“We received a complaint that a vehicle working in the area may have come into contact with three people who were on the road,” said Theriault. “We are investigating that complaint.”
Theriault said the incident did not cause any serious injuries.
Two eye-witnesses told APTN National News that demonstrators tried to stop a white truck which was driving at a low speed on Hwy 11. The witnesses said the truck sped up and hit one woman. A second woman ran over to the truck and was also bumped. While a man began yelling at the driver, the truck bumped into a third woman.
The witnesses said two of the women were taken by ambulance to hospital with bruises.
“And all through this the (driver) was smiling away,” said one witness. “The cops were right there and they said they didn’t see anything.”
Mi’kmaq-led demonstrations against SWN’s shale gas exploration work on Monday shut down a section of Hwy 11 near Richibucto, NB, for “several hours,” said Theriault. He said seven people were arrested during the day, including five men and two women. All were released the same day with conditions to stay at least one kilometre away from SWN’s exploration vehicles.
Theriault said the highway was reopened by 3 a.m. local time.
Demonstrators lit tires on fire that were laid across the highway. As the night progressed, two other fires were lit in the vicinity.
Theriault said the RCMP was also investigating the fires.
“They are under investigation and there could be charges down the road,” he said.
SWN obtained a 14 day extension to its injunction against the demonstrators Monday.
Theriault said the injunction also applies to journalists, who must also stay 250 metres from the front and back of SWN’s exploration vehicles and more than 20 m on either side.
APTN National News contacted two senior officials with SWN Resources Canada seeking comment, but calls were not returned.
