Men buried under lumber in New Westminster fatal incident, says WorkSafeBC
Probe into lumber yard deaths could take months according to workplace safety agency
Two men killed at a New Westminster lumber yard Saturday appear to have died after a load of lumber fell on them, a WorkSafeBC spokesperson said.
A forklift operator at United Gateway Logistics Inc. called police shortly before 1 p.m. PT Saturday, said WorkSafeBC's Scott McCloy.
No one witnessed the incident, McCloy said, but it appears, "the two workers were found under lumber that apparently fell on top of them."
The two victims ages were 60 and 65, said New Westminster Police spokesman Sergeant Jeff Scott.
The company, McCloy said, appears to be a lumber yard or a brokerage.
Probe could take months
WorkSafeBC investigators have now taken over the investigation, which could take weeks or months, McCloy said.
The names of the two men have not been released because police are still trying to contact the victims' relatives.
WorkSafe BC says there were no witnesses to lumberyard deaths. A forklift driver called the incident in. <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc">@cbcnewsbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/L4jdKH22c5">pic.twitter.com/L4jdKH22c5</a>
—@CBCKamilScott told reporters police have not ruled out foul play. McCloy said if investigators find anything suspicious, they will turn the probe back to police.
"In the event that we find that this is anything other a tragic incident that may have criminal code ramifications, we would immediately stop work and hand anything that we have over to the police," McCloy said.