The B.C. Coroners Service and WorkSafeBC are investigating a worker’s death at a freight-hauler loading facility in New Westminster.
New Westminster police said in a news release that the incident happened Friday morning, and that officers are investigating a death in the Queensborough neighbourhood involving a semi-truck.
“This is a tragic event and our thoughts are with the family of this individual,” media relations officer Sgt. Jeff Scott said.
Coroners’ spokesman Andy Watson said the service is still determining exactly how the worker died and whether it can make any recommendations regarding deaths in similar circumstances.
Jordan Atkins, vice-president of Western Transloading Corp., which operates the facility, said the driver was picking up a container on behalf of delivery company TBC Group.
While Atkins said there were no witnesses, and the incident occurred in a three-metre space between a building and the view of a surveillance camera.
“We were notified of the situation when one of the drivers came and alerted us that someone had been injured. We called police, the ambulance showed up, a couple of our employees here tried to resuscitate him and were unsuccessful,” Atkins said.
“What I do know of the driver who passed away is he’s extremely experienced, he’s been in the industry for more than 19 years from what I understand.”
Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement is are also present at the scene.
