Farm accident kills boy, 10, while driving forklift

A 10-year-old boy has died following a farming accident near Killam, Alta., Saturday after the forklift he was driving rolled on him.

The boy was driving the forklift on a gravel roadway at the family farm at around 11 a.m. when he lost control, RCMP said.

The machine drove into a ditch and rolled over.

People nearby attempted to administer first aid, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Members of the family said the boy had operated the forklift in the past and was familiar with its operation.

Police said they are not identifying the child out of respect for the family's privacy.

The accident comes weeks after three girls died after they were smothered by canola in a back of a truck west of Red Deer last month.

The accident led to calls for better protection of children on farms.

Occupational Health and Safety says it does not have jurisdiction over farms and therefore is not able to investigate the incident.

"To be able to go out into a farm or ranch and identify what happened and what contributed to the incident and to take steps to prevent it from happening again, I mean that's all positive," said spokesperson Pam Sharpe.

Last week the government introduced legislation that subjects Alberta farms and ranches to occupational health and safety regulations for the very first time.