26-year-old from Ontario was working on a ride at Vancouver resort
A 26-year-old man from Ontario lost his life in a workplace accident at Cypress Mountain Resort in Vancouver on Tuesday. The victim, whose identity is being withheld, was operating a front-end loader, commonly known as a scoop loader or bucket loader when the fatal incident occurred.
According to Sgt. Mark McLean of the West Vancouver Police Department, the incident took place at approximately 4:20 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
The front-end loader, for reasons yet unknown, began moving unassisted down a mountain slope. The operator attempted to regain control of the vehicle as it rolled downhill, but unfortunately, the loader overturned, trapping him underneath, leading to his tragic demise.
CBC News reports Sgt. McLean says, "he attempted to try to gain control of the vehicle while it was rolling down the hill, and unfortunately, while he was trying to do that, the vehicle overturned on top of him, and he got caught underneath. That caused his death." Despite the efforts of emergency responders, the young man was declared dead at the scene.
The victim was part of a team of workers involved in dismantling a roller coaster ride at Cypress Mountain, a popular winter sports destination located in West Vancouver on Metro Vancouver's North Shore. The specifics of what caused the front-end loader to move unexpectedly without its operator remain under investigation.
Local authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident in coordination with B.C.'s workplace regulator, WorkSafeBC. “It's still early days in terms of figuring out what led to that vehicle to go into motion when he wasn't in it," says Sgt. McLean.
The deceased operator's next-of-kin, who reside in Ontario, have been notified.
Cypress Mountain Resort, colloquially known as Cypress Bowl, is among the prominent ski resorts in Metro Vancouver's North Shore. Typically, the resort opens its doors for the winter skiing season at the end of November.
The tragic accident serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks associated with heavy machinery operations.
