Former BC Ferries officer Karl Lilgert has been found guilty of criminal negligence causing death in the 2006 sinking of Queen of the North. The ferry struck an island off the northern coast of British Columbia and sank, leaving two passengers still missing to this day.
The ship struck the island due to a missed turn in the Wright Sound.
Lilgert was a deckhand filling in as the ship’s fourth officer when the ferry sank and was charged in 2010 with two counts of criminal negligence causing death. It is alleged that Lilgert was negligent in his duties when he missed the turn, failed to correct it, and did not attempt to avoid the island or even slow down the ferry.
Lilgert was an experienced mariner but could not explain in his defense why the ferry struck the island, though his lawyers claimed unreliable equipment was to blame.
Even a short moment of negligence on ferries can cause major injury or even death. Ferries operate in rough weather and can increase the risk of accidents. Often, ferry injuries result from human error and negligence in providing proper safety for passengers.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a ferry accident, contact our office today by calling (617) 523-1000.