A Thursday morning collision between two heavy haulers at the Suncor Base Plant's open mine has claimed the life of a 51-year-old man.
Wood Buffalo RCMP are reporting that shortly before 7 a.m. emergency services at the Suncor Base Plant contacted Wood Buffalo RCMP to report a serious vehicle collision on site. Wood Buffalo RCMP General Duty, General Investigation Unit, Municipal Traffic Services and RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstruction attended the scene.
Preliminary investigation reveals there was a collision between two heavy haulers in the open mine on site. The driver and lone occupant, a 51-year-old man from Fort McMurray, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two occupants of the second vehicle, a man and a woman, suffered minor physical injuries. The woman was treated on site while the male was transported to a local hospital.
The Heavy Hauler trucks can weigh 500,000 pounds and can carry up to 400 tons. The 4,000 horsepower truck can be 50 feet in length and 50 feet in height.
Police say that Alberta Labour Occupational Health and Safety have been engaged and are conducting an investigation. Wood Buffalo RCMP have been in contact with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton.
Wood Buffalo RCMP’s investigation is ongoing. Police say the name of the deceased will not be released.
The Suncor Base Plant is located approximately 30 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
