Trucker’s body found in trailer in Newfoundland after botched police search in Ontario

Ontario Provincial Police are facing tough questions in the search for a missing Newfoundland trucker whose truck was found two weeks ago in Ontario and then 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, established that his tractor-trailer was parked at a gas station in Summerstown, Ontario.

They contacted the OPP, which 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 the front of his truck on April 24 at 4 :30 pm Lush was expected to return home. in Stephenville, NL, later that week.

Provincial police issued a series of subsequent statements, including a request for video footage from dash cameras or trail cameras recorded on or near Highway 401 near Cornwall, Ontario, on April 25 between 10:30 a.m. and noon.

“An individual partially matching Brian’s description had been reported along the highway at the time, but could not be located when officers arrived,” the OPP said in a statement dated April 29.

The search included assistance from the OPP emergency response team, canine units, a remotely operated drone, an OPP helicopter, and search and rescue volunteers.

The search turned up nothing except Lush’s personal belongings in his truck.

On Monday, the OPP confirmed that Lush had been found dead and that no foul play was suspected, but police did not say where his body was found.

The next day, Newfoundland RCMP issued a statement confirming that Lush’s remains were found Monday inside his tractor-trailer after it 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 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 it was returned to Newfoundland, we conducted an extensive investigation and search to try to locate him,” Dickson said.

“We are conducting a review of our investigation and will share those details with the family, as we continue to stay in contact with them.”

He said the Newfoundland coroner’s office is investigating the death because there was no criminal act.

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