Police: Evidence criminal act may have led to Canada train crash

Eliott C. McLaughlin. Ben Brumfield. Paula Newton and Joe Sterling, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 2:11 AM EDT, Thu July 11, 2013
Edward Burkhardt, CEO of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railways Inc., speaks on Wednesday, July 10, during a news conference. A train with 72 tanker cars carrying crude oil barreled down the track before <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/10/world/americas/canada-runaway-train/index.html?hpt=hp_c3">derailing and exploding in Lac -Megantic, Quebec</a>, on Saturday, July 6.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Edward Burkhardt, CEO of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railways Inc., speaks on Wednesday, July 10, during a news conference. A train with 72 tanker cars carrying crude oil barreled down the track before derailing and exploding in Lac -Megantic, Quebec, on Saturday, July 6.
STEEVE DUGUAY/AFP/Getty Images
A woman takes a photo of the devastation on Tuesday, July 9.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
A woman takes a photo of the devastation on Tuesday, July 9.
STEEVE DUGUAY/AFP/Getty Images
A police officer surveys the damage. At least 15 people were killed and another 45 remain missing after the weekend crash, authorities said. Those still missing are feared dead, possibly vaporized by the resulting inferno, according to some experts.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
A police officer surveys the damage. At least 15 people were killed and another 45 remain missing after the weekend crash, authorities said. Those still missing are feared dead, possibly vaporized by the resulting inferno, according to some experts.
MATHIEU BELANGER/REUTERS/LANDOV
Residents leave a convenience store in a part of Lac Megantic that reopened on July 9.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Residents leave a convenience store in a part of Lac Megantic that reopened on July 9.
MATHIEU BELANGER/REUTERS/LANDOV
A worker reconnects wires on July 9.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
A worker reconnects wires on July 9.
MATHIEU BELANGER/REUTERS/LANDOV
Train wreckage is pictured in Lac Megantic, Quebec, on July 9.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Train wreckage is pictured in Lac Megantic, Quebec, on July 9.
MATHIEU BELANGER/Reuters /Landov
An emergency worker works at the site of the train wreckage on July 9.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
An emergency worker works at the site of the train wreckage on July 9.
MATHIEU BELANGER/Reuters /Landov
Burned tanker cars are scattered on the tracks in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, on Monday, July 8.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Burned tanker cars are scattered on the tracks in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, on Monday, July 8.
MATHIEU BELANGER/reuters/LANDOV
A man collects oil floating on the Chaudiere River near Lac-Megantic on July 8.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
A man collects oil floating on the Chaudiere River near Lac-Megantic on July 8.
STEEVE DUGUAY/AFP/Getty Images
Derailed rail cars sit in mud and oil in Lac-Megantic on July 8, in this handout image released by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Derailed rail cars sit in mud and oil in Lac-Megantic on July 8, in this handout image released by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA/HANDOUT/landov
A man consoles a woman on July 8 at the Polyvalente Montignac, the school used as a shelter for evacuated Lac-Megantic residents.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
A man consoles a woman on July 8 at the Polyvalente Montignac, the school used as a shelter for evacuated Lac-Megantic residents.
MATHIEU BELANGER/reuters/LANDOv
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, second left, observes the site of the explosion on Sunday, July 7.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, second left, observes the site of the explosion on Sunday, July 7.
Jill Thompson/XINHUA/LANDOv
Firefighters continue to douse burning wreckage on July 7 in Lac-Megantic, Quebec.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Firefighters continue to douse burning wreckage on July 7 in Lac-Megantic, Quebec.
FranÁois Laplante-Delagrave/AFP/Getty Images
People cry and hug each other on July 7 while they sit on the grass at the Polyvalente Montignac, the school sheltering the people who were forced to leave their houses.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
People cry and hug each other on July 7 while they sit on the grass at the Polyvalente Montignac, the school sheltering the people who were forced to leave their houses.
MATHIEU BELANGER/Reuters/LANDOV
Firefighters continue to water smoldering rubble on July 7.
Train derails, explodes in Canadian town —
Firefighters continue to water smoldering rubble on July 7.
Ryan Remiorz/THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP