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Recycling company tied to fatal hayride accident

Former employee says drivers putting lives at risk

WMTW Image SOURCE: WMTW Image
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Recycling company tied to fatal hayride accident
Former employee says drivers putting lives at risk
It's been two weeks since a hayride accident killed a girl and injured more than 20 other in Mechanic Falls.The company that operates the haunted hayrides also owns a Portland recycling company.Now, a former employee said drivers are putting lives at risk.Charles Ramsey is a carpenter by trade, but for two years he drove a truck for Re- Harvest Inc., a Portland recycling company which is under the same corporate structure as Harvest Hill Farms, the operators of that fatal haunted hayride accident two weeks ago."I'm surprised someone down at Re-Harvest hasn't gotten killed yet," said Ramsey.Ramsey said when he was a truck driver for Re-Harvest, he was the so-called "squeaky wheel" complaining to his bosses."I told them the equipment is unsafe, we shouldn't be driving the equipment. They just bring it up and out patch-jobs on the repairs that need to be done, instead of actually doing it properly," said Ramsey.He talked about the day in 2010 when the roof of his 18-wheeler blew off while driving up Interstate 95 in Sidney. The police cited him for driving an unsafe vehicle."Oh God, there were holes in the frame of the trailer, pieces of the trailer were missing, lights, brakes," said Ramsey.The state's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division through the state police confirmed that truck had 26 safety violations. The division also confirmed Re-Harvest had a number of other safety violations related to other vehicles."I believe he shouldn't be in business anymore at all for any of his businesses just because of the blatant disregard for safety," said Ramey.The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the hayride accident at Harvest Hill Farms. They are looking at the Jeep that hauled the flatbed and possible mechanical failure as the cause.Cassidy Charette, 17, was killed in the accident. Twenty-two other people were hurt."I was surprised that it took so long for something to happen. Unfortunately a young girl lost her life which is really pretty much one of the reasons I started saying the things that I did," said Ramsey.Peter Bolduc, who owns Harvest Hill Farms and is listed as the president of Re-Harvest, is referring all inquiries to his lawyers.Here's what his lawyers had to say on Wednesday: "We are not going to comment on any factual aspects of the case pending the outcome of the State Fire Marshal's Office investigation."The Fire Marshal's Office has not released its findings yet.

It's been two weeks since a hayride accident killed a girl and injured more than 20 other in Mechanic Falls.

The company that operates the haunted hayrides also owns a Portland recycling company.

Now, a former employee said drivers are putting lives at risk.

Charles Ramsey is a carpenter by trade, but for two years he drove a truck for Re- Harvest Inc., a Portland recycling company which is under the same corporate structure as Harvest Hill Farms, the operators of that fatal haunted hayride accident two weeks ago.

"I'm surprised someone down at Re-Harvest hasn't gotten killed yet," said Ramsey.

Ramsey said when he was a truck driver for Re-Harvest, he was the so-called "squeaky wheel" complaining to his bosses.

"I told them the equipment is unsafe, we shouldn't be driving the equipment. They just bring it up and out patch-jobs on the repairs that need to be done, instead of actually doing it properly," said Ramsey.

He talked about the day in 2010 when the roof of his 18-wheeler blew off while driving up Interstate 95 in Sidney. The police cited him for driving an unsafe vehicle.

"Oh God, there were holes in the frame of the trailer, pieces of the trailer were missing, lights, brakes," said Ramsey.

The state's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division through the state police confirmed that truck had 26 safety violations. The division also confirmed Re-Harvest had a number of other safety violations related to other vehicles.

"I believe he shouldn't be in business anymore at all for any of his businesses just because of the blatant disregard for safety," said Ramey.

The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the hayride accident at Harvest Hill Farms. They are looking at the Jeep that hauled the flatbed and possible mechanical failure as the cause.

Cassidy Charette, 17, was killed in the accident. Twenty-two other people were hurt.

"I was surprised that it took so long for something to happen. Unfortunately a young girl lost her life which is really pretty much one of the reasons I started saying the things that I did," said Ramsey.

Peter Bolduc, who owns Harvest Hill Farms and is listed as the president of Re-Harvest, is referring all inquiries to his lawyers.

Here's what his lawyers had to say on Wednesday: "We are not going to comment on any factual aspects of the case pending the outcome of the State Fire Marshal's Office investigation."

The Fire Marshal's Office has not released its findings yet.

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