LETHBRIDGE- Investigators are trying to determine how 35-year-old David van Bruggen was pinned up against a shed after fuelling up a forklift by himself at his workplace.
Bill Wright is the manager at Mo-Tires and says van Bruggen started in April and was an eager employee.
He leaves behind a wife and young kids.
“He was a shipper receiver, he took a lot of initiative around here. After everything he always smiles and he was a good guy to have around,” said Wright.
Officials from Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) say over 200 accidents involving forklifts happened in Alberta in 2011, but there was only one reported death.
Bill Wright says this is the first time in Mo-Tires’ 75 years of business that there has been such a tragic incident, and employees are having a very difficult time with the loss of van Bruggen.
OHS has since halted use on the forklift involved in van Bruggen’s death, and at this point no charges are being laid.
Global News