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WSCC lays charges in 2016 death of 19-year-old Australian in Inuvik

Parents of Australian teen killed on Inuvik job site bring N.W.T gov't to court

Charges have been filed by the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission naming Allen Services & Contracting Limited (Inuvik), and a company supervisor.

The nine charges follow a June 28, 2016 incident when 19-year-old David Vinnicombe was fatally injured while on the job at an access road to the Inuvik satellite station facility near the town.

At the time of the incident, Jim Sawkins, director of protective services for the town, described a scene where a "piece of heavy machine had rolled over on the sole occupant of the vehicle."

According to a Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission press release, nine charges have been filed in territorial court under sections of the Northwest Territories' Safety Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

They include, "failure to provide information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to protect the health and safety of workers; failure to ensure that all workers are sufficiently and competently supervised; and failure to ensure that all supervisors complete an approved regulatory familiarization program."

Vinnicombe was in Canada on the "adventure of a lifetime," his father, Robbie Vinnicombe, said this past April. Robbie and his sister Jacqui Vinnicombe were in Yellowknife for the territory's annual Day of Mourning to honour those killed or injured at work.

David Vinnicombe's death was the territory's only workplace fatality in 2016.

The first court appearance is scheduled for June 13 in Inuvik.