Montreal

1 killed, 2 injured after metal structure collapses in workplace incident east of Montreal

The Sûreté du Québec and the province's workplace health and safety board are both investigating a fatal workplace incident at a site on Highway 132 in Sorel-Tracy on Thursday afternoon.

Police say a forklift operating above ground level fell onto a metal structure that then collapsed

A closeup of the side door of a white, black and yellow police car.
An investigation is underway in Sorel-Tracy after a fatal workplace incident. (Lynda Paradis/Radio-Canada)

The Sûreté du Québec is investigating after one person was killed and two others were seriously injured in a workplace incident in Sorel-Tracy, located 90 kilometres east of Montreal.

SQ spokesperson Laurie Avoine said emergency services were called at around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday for an incident at a site on Highway 132, near the intersection of Jean-Talon Street.

Preliminary information indicates that a forklift operating above ground level fell onto a metal structure that then collapsed, Avoine said. 

One person was declared dead at the scene, while two others were transported to hospital for treatment. 

Avoine said their injuries, though serious, were not life-threatening. 

An investigation is underway to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

"We have to validate that there is no criminal element," Avoine said. 

Quebec's workplace health and safety board, known as the CNESST, is also investigating.

Written by Annabelle Olivier