Construction worker dies after 'serious accident' at Regina airport Friday night, authority says
A construction worker died while working at the Regina airport Friday night.
The worker, who was involved in a project on the main runway, was injured during a "serious accident" that occurred around 11:30 p.m. Friday, a news release issued by the Regina Airport Authority said.
A spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada told CBC News the agency had not been informed of any plane crashes or collisions at the site.
First responders arrived on scene, but the person died from their injuries, the release said.
Members of the Regina Police Service and Saskatchewan Coroners Service — which is responsible for investigating all sudden, unexpected and unnatural deaths — worked on the airfield into early Saturday morning.
Federal occupational health and safety workers are investigating, but the investigation could take several weeks to complete, said James Bogusz, president of the Regina Airport Authority, in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
The incident has not hindered scheduled flights or airport operations, the initial release said.
The Regina International Airport has been undergoing a major revitalization project for Runway 13-31, the main runway. Construction started earlier this month and is expected to run through the third week of September, the airport's website said.
The construction worker who died was working on the runway overlay project, the airport authority's news release said.
Construction is on pause through the weekend and is expected to resume Monday, Bogusz said, adding that regular "contact and support" is being provided to those involved.
PCL Construction Management, which is overseeing the runway project, is helping gather further information, district manager Jordan Clouthier said in another news release issued by the airport authority Saturday night.
The company is contact with Saskatchewan Occupational health and Safety and working with the agency for its investigation, the release said. PCL is also undertaking its own investigation.
The company is respecting the privacy of the victim and trade contractor involved, Clouthier said.
