Teen dies in Manitoba after buried in hot asphalt

[Ban Hammer 13,347]

The Canadian Press

July 25, 2008 at 11:13 PM EDT

STONY MOUNTAIN, Man. — A 15-year-old boy died in a horrific construction accident Friday when he was buried under a mountain of searing-hot asphalt.

The boy, too young to work on construction jobs under Manitoba labour laws, was part of a paving crew working on a parking lot in the Winnipeg bedroom community of Stony Mountain.

“I believe [the truck] dumped off way too much asphalt unexpectedly,” said Stony Mountain fire Chief Wallace Drysdale.

“I was one of the first members on scene and we just saw the hair sticking out of this individual. It was extremely hot asphalt. Our crews, when we were digging out, had to shuttle different members in and out in about four- or five-minute intervals because our feet were burning.”

Police and labour officials were investigating.

Richard Hill, who lives less than 100 metres from the accident scene, heard the boy screaming and ran over.

“I guess it was the truck driver that said, ‘There's a guy buried in here' and I ... found a shovel, and me and another guy tried digging him out,” Mr. Hill said.

It took about 15 minutes to get the boy out. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“We got to the back of his head and there was no movement,” Mr. Hill said. “We pretty much knew there wouldn't be any hope because of the heat and the weight of that [asphalt].

“There's no way a person can breathe with asphalt.”

Manitoba workplace health and safety officials were trying to figure out how the accident occurred and would not comment.

Having teenagers work such jobs is not uncommon, according to Chief Drysdale.

“It's usually a good summer job for them.”

However, Manitoba's Employment Standards Code bars young people under 16 from working on construction sites, as well as other industrial locations where there are drilling rigs and scaffolding. RCMP didn't say whether charges would be laid.

RCMP said they were not releasing the boy's name immediately at the request of his family, but the Winnipeg Free Press identified him as Andrew James.

Katie Coburn, a friend of the boy's older sister, told the Free Press he “was a good kid” who was preparing to enter Grade 10. She said it was the second summer he had worked for Interlake Asphalt Paving.

“He was a normal guy and he was a hard worker,” she said. “He would cut grass and do other jobs around here. He worked throughout the year.”

Brian Yeadon, a family friend, told CTV Winnipeg that the boy had worked since he was seven years old.

“He was a good kid. The family is all devastated.”

Mr. Yeadon said the owner of the local paving company was also distraught and suffered bad burns in his efforts to extricate the teen.

“It's a fluke accident,” said Mr. Yeadon. “The load – whether it let go, I don't know. But I'm devastated because they were both friends of mine.”

The death has touched everyone in Stony Mountain, Chief Drysdale said.

“Our [fire department] members knew this person, 'cause it's a small town,” he said. “It's very hard.”

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[mRx 16]

What a horrible way to go.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Unbelievable.

[Sassy1natl 0]

How sad.

[Nagishkaw 510]

What a horrible way to go.

My thoughts exactly.

[NavarreMan 10]

That is definately way up my list of ways I do not want to die. How horrible that must have been.

[Savanphil 3]

Dang!!

[pedroh 21]

omg

that is a horrific way to die..

[Kathryn41 3,205]

How tragic.

[MrsCat 6]

that's aweful.

[IAMX 3,055]

I hope they find the culprit asphalt and bring it to justice.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Poor kid.

[Fandango 1,439]

What a horrible tragedy

The Canadian Press

...

RCMP said they were not releasing the boy's name immediately at the request of his family, but the Winnipeg Free Press identified him as Andrew James.

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Canadian Press and Winnipeg Free Press, you are both disrespectful @ssholes.