$2 million awarded on bus crash lawsuits

The City of Ottawa has settled six of the 36 lawsuits filed against it for the deadly September 2013 bus-train collision — including two from families of men killed in the crash.

City solicitor Rick O’Connor confirmed the settlements to the Sun on Monday.

Transportation Safety Board of Canada releases the final draft of its report on the accident Wednesday.

The city has already paid out $1.93 million to six of the many claimants who were all cumulatively trying to get $26 million in damages.

O’Connor added that 30 lawsuits are not settled.

Two undisclosed out of court settlements were reached with the families of Rob More, 35, and Michael Bleakney, 57.

Both of the men were killed when the double-decker OC Transpo bus slammed into a moving VIA rail train on Sept. 18, 2013 in Barrhaven.

Reached Monday, More’s father Mike indicated he’ll be watching to see what new information will be included in the final report.

While the TSB report is scheduled for release on Wednesday, the Bleakneys’ lawyer, Howard Yegendorf told the Sun that the settlement for his client was made with preliminary information released from TSB investigators.

“The preliminary findings were quite definitive,” said Yegendorf.

Yegendorf said the preliminary information led him to believe VIA rail was without fault in the horrific crash and that there were no problems with the crossing, the bus, or the train.

“The preliminary findings of this safety board leads one to an irresistible inference that it was the actions of the driver that caused the crash,” he said.