Time is running out for a Joliette trucker who faces bankruptcy after an accident on December 16. The smuggler who was called to the scene that day refused to return his truck to him due to a “practice that appears to be fraudulent,” the court case alleges.
“Because of him I will lose everything. I can’t work anymore and I’ve been losing $5,000 a week since January 3,” said Martin Champoux, who had been driving his truck for five months prior to the accident.
Mr Champoux intends to represent himself in court on Thursday to seek an injunction to force the hand of Remorquage Robillard, based in Saint-Félix-de-Valois.
André Robillard, owner of the towing company, is refusing to tell the Journal more because of the court case.
“I don’t want to add fuel to the fire. We have to follow procedures and we will follow them,” he said.
save a life…
The story begins on December 16 on Route 345 in the Lanaudière region.
The road conditions are so bad that Martin Champoux decides to stop driving and park his truck – which he owns – on a friend’s property. He has 5 minutes before he arrives when a motorist overtakes him in the left lane before he skids.
“I wanted to bump into him. I calmed down, but I calmed down too much. My truck overturned on its side in a plowed field,” says the trucker.
The driver continues on his way without stopping. A few minutes later, the police arrive at the scene of the crime.
Martin Champoux escapes physically unharmed but is in shock. His friend takes it upon himself to call a local smuggler while he regains his senses.
Remorquage Robillard will work from 6pm to 3am with two tow trucks and a mechanical excavator as the truck was loaded with logs.
The heavyweight was supposed to be towed to Martin Champoux’s friend’s property, but is instead transported to Remorquage Robillard’s farm.
Photo provided by Karine Castonguay
Mr. Champoux at the scene of the accident on Route 345.
… It is expensive
This is where the real trouble begins. On December 20, Martin Champoux called André Robillard to pick up his truck.
Only the body of the cabin is damaged, he plans to do the work himself.
“It would cost me a lot less to fix everything with my mechanic friends over the holidays. By registering with the insurance company, my premiums would increase and I ran the risk of not being able to renew,” he explains.
But the smuggler insists that he report the accident to his insurance company and refuses to return the truck, claiming that the bill isn’t ready.
New call on December 27th, same story. Rebelote on January 12th, then January 13th.
“I already lost 10 working days on the way there. I was very insistent and Robillard finally told me he wanted $23,933 to return the truck to me,” reports Martin Champoux.
A generous calculation by the trucker, confirmed by Le Journal for the hauler’s 9 hours of work on December 16, puts it at $6,700.
Worse, says Martin Champoux, who recorded the conversation, André Robillard offers to pay half his deductible and seek $35,000 in damages.
“From then on there was no doubt. My truck is being held hostage,” says the trucker.
During the few minutes we spoke to him, André Robillard said it was “the first time” he was experiencing such a situation. He also urged the Journal to “be careful” because we have “only one version of the facts.”
However, he refused to give us his due to a court case.
Martin Champoux is still not on the road. His timber hauling contract with a sawmill is in jeopardy as he has very little time left to deliver the goods.
“It’s starting to cost me a lot of money to have saved this driver’s life,” he says.
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