Achi news desk-
AUX-PORT CHANNEL BASKET, NL –
Ontario Provincial Police are facing tough questions about their search for a missing Newfoundland trucker whose rig was found two weeks ago in Ontario, sent back to Newfoundland, where his body was found Monday in the trailer.
Brian Lush’s family last heard from him on April 24, and using data from a GPS tracking device, they established that his tractor-trailer was parked at a gas station in Summerstown, Ont.
They contacted the OPP, who issued a news release on April 26 saying surveillance video from the gas station in eastern Ontario showed the 51-year-old truck driver in front of his rig on April 24 at 4:30 pm Lush was expected home in Stephenville, NL, later that week.
Provincial police issued a number of subsequent statements, including a plea for video footage from dash cameras or trail cameras recorded on or near Highway 401 near Cornwall, Ont., on April 25 between 10:30 a.m. and noon.
“An individual partially matching Brian’s description had been reported along the highway at that time but could not be located when officers arrived,” OPP said in a statement dated April 29.
The search included assistance from the OPP’s emergency response team, dog units, a remotely operated drone, an OPP helicopter and search and rescue volunteers.
The search failed to turn up anything, except for Lush’s personal belongings in his truck.
On Monday, the OPP confirmed that Lush had been found dead and foul play was not suspected, but police did not say where his body was found.
The following day, the RCMP in Newfoundland issued a statement confirming that Lush’s remains were found Monday inside his tractor-trailer after he arrived in Port aux Basques in the southwest corner of the island.
On Wednesday, OPP spokesman Bill Dickson did not respond when asked by email whether OPP officers had searched the trailer. He confirmed that there will be a review of the investigation.
“While we acknowledge that we did not locate the missing person, who was later found dead inside the trailer after being returned to Newfoundland, we conducted an extensive investigation and search to try and up to him,” said Dickson.
“We are conducting a review of our investigation and will share those details with the family, as we continue to contact them.”
He said the coroner’s office in Newfoundland is investigating the death because there was no foul play.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on May 8, 2024. By Michael MacDonald in Halifax.
