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Engineer Robert Wood charged with criminal negligence in fatal Elliot Lake mall collapse

Engineer Robert Wood charged with criminal negligence in fatal Elliot Lake mall collapse

An engineer who declared an Elliot Lake, Ont., mall structurally sound before it collapsed in 2012has been charged with criminal negligence in connection to the death of two people.

Ontario Provincial Police announced on Friday that Robert Wood, 64, of Sault Ste. Marie, has been two counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm in connection to the fatal roof collapse.

On June 23, 2013, a parking structure attached to the Algo Centre Mall crumbled in on itself, killing Lucie Aylwin and Doloris Perizzolo and injuring several others. Ontario police launched a criminal investigation shortly after, which has resulted in Wood’s arrest.

At the time of the mall collapse, Wood was the principle owner of the engineering firm M.R. Wright. Prior to the collapse, Wood noted to the mall's manager that there was rust on beams in the mall but declared the building structurally sound.

According to the Globe and Mail, Wood had previously been found guilty of professional misconduct in 2010 in relation to his work on a private logging bridge in northern Ontario.

He is expected to appear in court in Elliot Lake on March 25. The OPP say the investigation is ongoing. A public inquiry is also being held into the collapse. A final report is expected to be released at the end of October.

More to come.