2 workers killed as dozer collides with truck at Suncor mine
CBC News | Posted: December 29, 2020 6:33 PM | Last Updated: December 29, 2020
Occupational Health and Safety is investigating
Two workers died Monday after a bulldozer collided with a pickup truck at a northern Alberta oilsands mine.
The workers were killed at the Fort Hills mining operation around 5:30 p.m., Suncor Energy spokesperson Jennifer Lomas told CBC News.
Both were employees of ClearStream Mining which provides mining services at the site located 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
Both of the deceased were inside the pickup truck at the time of the collision, the RCMP said in a release Tuesday.
The driver, a 29-year-old man from Bloomfield, N.L., and the passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Calgary, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to RCMP spokesperson Teri-Ann Bakker.
The 58-year-old man who was driving the bulldozer was not injured.
Bakker said the RCMP will not be releasing the names of the deceased.
Occupational Health and Safety officials are investigating, Lomas said.
Lomas said the company officials are deeply saddened by the deaths. She said grief counselling is being offered to all employees.
"Mining operations have been stood down while the investigation is underway and the rest of the site is focused on critical work only at this time," she said.
"It's a very sad situation. Our thoughts and deep condolences go out to the family and friends of these individuals."
ClearStream Energy Services issued a statement Tuesday, offering condolences to the friends and families of the deceased.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they endure this incredibly difficult time and we grieve this loss together," said CEO Yves Paletta in the statement.
The Fort Hills operation, an open-pit truck and shovel mine, is one of the largest in the Wood Buffalo region and is capable of producing up to 14,500 tonnes of oil sand per hour.
It's not known how long operations will be paused during the investigation.