Victim’s body recovered after cement truck crash in Buttle Lake

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WatchRCMP investigators say a mechanical inspection will be done on the truck to help determine the cause of Monday's fatal crash

 

An RCMP dive team recovered the body of a man Tuesday who was killed in a commercial truck crash Monday at Buttle Lake.

The victim was the driver of the cement truck, a man police have not yet identified. The family has been notified.

“It is a substantial recovery operation and really it needs to be conducted by people who specialize in that kind of thing and that is the RCMP Recovery Dive Team,” said Const. Maury Tyre of the Campbell River RCMP.

The location is down a steep embankment along Westmin Road south of Buttle Narrows on Highway 28 between Campbell River and Gold River.

The fully loaded cement truck was headed southbound towards the Nyrstar mine when for unknown reasons, it went off the road to the right and into the water.

There are few safety barriers along the road and none in this particular spot.

“Obviously, when we have a tragic accident like this we’re going to try to determine the cause of the accident and that really is our main priority right now is to recover the vehicle and determine the cause of the accident,” added Constable Tyre.

Campbell River towing company Coastline Towing and Transport was tasked with removing the truck from the lake.

“They don’t get much more technical than this,” said Coastline owner Tom Caflisch. “The way everything is lying and the way the truck is sitting down there, it adds some difficulties to the recovery.”

He says the cement barrel itself separated from the truck during the crash and lies farther out into the lake. The cab part of the truck was also sitting on a ledge and was at risk of slipping deeper into the water.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, the heavy equipment and big tow trucks were in place and preparing to raise the truck to the roadway.

It was expected to be completed Tuesday evening.

Dean StoltzDean Stoltz

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