Blasting gone wrong in Eastern Townships sends rocks flying into busy intersection
A blasting operation in Quebec's Eastern Townships appears to have gone wrong Thursday, propelling debris into nearby vehicles and commercial buildings.
The incident took place in the afternoon at the intersection of Route 112 and Galipeau Road in Ascot Corner, Que.
Some projectiles were the size of a football.
No one was injured, but a woman was taken to hospital to be treated for shock.
Provincial police spokesperson Aurélie Guindon said Quebec's workplace health and safety board (CNESST) is investigating as it is considered a workplace accident.
Isabelle Vachon was stopped at the busy intersection when she heard a loud boom and saw workers running from the construction site.
The rear part of her car's roof was blown open by a falling rock.
"It was lucky my son was not in the back," she said.
Ian Gélineau was inside a nearby restaurant when the blasting started.
"Everything was shaking, and turning to the window I saw a cloud of rocks coming toward us," he said. He rushed behind the counter for cover.
The rocks damaged the exterior of the restaurant, in addition to cars parked outside.
Excavation Steve Leblanc, which is in charge of the construction site, said the blasting was the responsibility of a subcontractor.
"This is unacceptable," said owner Leblanc Thursday evening. "Happily, no one was hurt, because it could truly have been much worse."
The CNESST confirmed to Radio-Canada Friday that the subcontractor, Dynamitage Desrochers, has been subjected to frequent inspections. After this latest incident, the company cannot do any further blasting until the CNESST investigates how they are doing it, said Julie Fournier, spokesperson for the board in the Eastern Townships.
That investigation could take several days, she said.
Dynamitage Desrochers did not respond to Radio-Canada's requests for an interview.
The Sûreté du Québec is also investigating the incident.
