The superintendent or manager of any line or plant, subject to supervision under this chapter, shall notify the Department in writing of any accident within this State immediately after its occurrence, upon such line or plant resulting in loss of life or injury to any person that shall incapacitate him or her from engaging in his or her usual vocations. The Department shall inquire into the cause of every such accident, and if, in its judgment, a public investigation is necessary, it shall fix a time and place of holding the same, and shall thereupon proceed as provided in 5 V.S.A. § 3454 relating to investigation of accidents upon railroads. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 1979, No. 204 (Adj. Sess.), § 35, eff. Feb. 1, 1981.)