Operator presumed dead after excavator accident on N.W.T. highway

By Ollie Williams and Sarah Sibley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

CABIN RADIO

An excavator operator is presumed dead after an accident involving the machine on the N.W.T.’s Mackenzie Highway.

Fort Simpson RCMP said the excavator went “into standing water” on Tuesday. Cabin Radio understands efforts are still under way to locate the operator’s body.

Authorities investigating what happened have yet to publicly identify the person involved.

In a news release on Friday, police termed the incident a “presumed sudden death” and said there were no suspicious circumstances.

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Police said they are investigating the incident with help from the territory’s coroner and the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

The precise location on the highway was not given by police.

The N.W.T. coroner’s office earlier confirmed to Cabin Radio an accident had taken place but was unable to provide further detail.

The territory’s Department of Infrastructure said it was unable to comment, other than to confirm no territorial government employee was involved. A man answering the phone at Nogha Enterprises, the company understood to have employed the operator, declined to comment.