Auto centre worker's death investigated
The Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board is investigating after an employee at a Whitehorse auto centre was hit by a custumer's car and died Tuesday afternoon.
The Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board is investigating after an employee at a Whitehorse auto centre was hit by a customer's car and died Tuesday afternoon.
The employee of Integra Tire was struck in the back parking lot between 3 and 4 p.m., Kurt Dieckmann, the director of occupational health and safety, said early this afternoon.
The coroner's office has identified the man as 34-year-old Denis Chabot, originally from Quebec.
Chief coroner Sharon Hanley said the man's body is being sent out for an autopsy, but that it is likely he died of crush injuries.
The board is investigating because the employee died at work.
An employee who picked up the phone at Integra Tire this afternoon said no one was available to comment on the situation.
Dieckmann said no further information will be released until the investigators complete a preliminary report, which could take as much as a month to complete.
Comments (16)
Up 0 Down 0
Chilkootwoman on Nov 25, 2011 at 7:53 am
Kaitllin I could not have agreed more, I try to skip Francias Pilman's comments but sometimes I have to read and shake my head. ANNOYING!!
Up 0 Down 0
Darrell Lewis on Nov 24, 2011 at 12:39 pm
my sincere condolences to the entire family and coworkers.
i am a yukoner who left many yrs ago consider yourself very fortunate to live with the freedom you posses wcb does what they can they are only human with very little power and let's not rush to conclusions like a city boy would. i have more faith in you than that. as for the RCMP as an ex criminal and x officer under the criminal code ( ya figure that out ) again realize how fortunate you are to have an exemplory police force to help you keep peace amongst yourselves instead of an instigational unlawful force you will find in many other parts of this fine country. Find yourself in trouble and watch your opinion change very quickly
Up 0 Down 0
Kaitlin on Nov 24, 2011 at 5:24 am
Francias Pillman, I also disagree with all of your comments. Wait for the facts & please stop making pre-judgments. It's irritating seeing your comments under every article, ALWAYS being negative. Please take a second & realize that you're not always going to be right, or have the answer.
Up 0 Down 0
knowurfacts on Nov 23, 2011 at 8:34 am
Francis: it makes me sad that every time I read an article I find your comments and disagree with them. please correct yourself. wait. don't go blaming people. while the facts have yet to be released, I was close to where it happened and must defend everyone involved. it was an accident and I'm confident the driver was not to blame.
I am very sad for everyone at integra, and my heart goes out to denis' friends and family.
Up 0 Down 0
north of 60 on Nov 21, 2011 at 11:24 am
This is a time for grieving and condolences, not for laying unfounded blame. A good person has left us forever, let's remember him for the joy he brought our lives.
Let the investigators do their job; in time we will know the details, and only then should we speculate on 'what-if' scenarios.
Up 0 Down 0
YUKONGUY on Nov 20, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Denis was a super nice guy. He would always come over and say hello when I seen him. RIP buddy!
As for WCB. I work for a well known and long running business ( about 15 worker ) here in Whitehorse. The company owners put profit before safety. I have called WCB twice over the last 6 years and they have not come to my work place once! We are a small Territory. There is no excuses as to why the WCB can't visit every work site in the Yukon every year.
Up 0 Down 0
flyingfur on Nov 19, 2011 at 11:10 am
Francias: The point was, as you put it, "What do you want? A WCB rep at every job location?" So two things; we can no sooner expect a WCB "rep" (I guess you mean inspector or officer) at every workplace any more than we can expect a cop on every corner. There should be a health and safety representative, at every workplace even if there are fewer than 20 employees as is probably the case with Integra. Having said that, there is no evidence that this was preventable and as some have quite rightly pointed out, this is a time to allow friends and coworkers to remember this fellow and to celebrate his life. My condolences to his family, friends, and co-workers.
Up 0 Down 0
bobby bitman on Nov 19, 2011 at 7:11 am
I never met Denis but the people who I know who knew him say he was a really great guy. So sorry to hear this news. Makes you wish you could turn back time and change everything.
Up 0 Down 0
elizabeth wallace4 on Nov 19, 2011 at 5:45 am
A young man has died!!!! It seems like the only concern here is who is to blame. Has anyone heard of extending sympathy to the family or co-workers--when a group works together day after day, it is family. Please accept our deepest sympathy--both family & Whitehorse Integra Tire staff--may Denis rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Betsy
Integra Tire & Auto
Sicamous
Up 0 Down 0
Francias Pillman on Nov 18, 2011 at 11:05 am
So you saw someone get pulled over. People are still dying on our streets, that's the point here. No one up here should lose their life. The majority of people killed are on roads with speed limits of 50 km/h. Totally unacceptable.
Up 0 Down 0
Max Mack on Nov 18, 2011 at 10:53 am
How regrettable that people are using this man's death as an opportunity to soapbox about safety in the workplace.
A young man is dead. Let's mourn that fact.
Let the investigators do to their job, and leave all the posturing and pontificating for the pathetic politicians and bureaucrats.
Up 0 Down 0
flyingfur on Nov 18, 2011 at 8:37 am
Francias: "To use your own words "How about people take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming others?" Stop blaming the RCMP and start blaming the drivers. BTW just saw somebody pulled over yesterday afternoon on the Hamilton Blvd extension...
Up 0 Down 0
non assuming on Nov 18, 2011 at 7:00 am
Francis and other assumers and soapboxers. Hang tight and wait for facts. Are you sure it was a driver that caused this. As well please allow family and friends to mourn without making this a slam post taking away from the memory of a good person.
Count to five and think will this make me a better person before pushing "post comment"
Up 0 Down 0
Francias Pillman on Nov 17, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Wow, just unbelievable, blaming the WCB for this. What do you want? A WCB rep at every job location? How about people take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming others. How many more people are going to die at the hand of Yukon drivers? Where are you RCMP? I never see them pulling people over anymore, so what exactly do they do with all their time? Funny our streets were never this bad years ago.
Up 0 Down 0
Joy Harry on Nov 16, 2011 at 7:14 pm
R.I.P Denis.... you were an amazing man, you will forever be remembered and missed
God bless your soul my friend
Up 0 Down 0
tradesman on Nov 16, 2011 at 10:49 am
he was a great guy and will be missed by many!
maybe wcb will actually get off there a$$ and enforce some laws.. i have worked in the trades for several years and have yet to see wcb actually go around to some of these shops. business in the Yukon gets away with cutting corners daily. If things aren't changed soon there will be more deaths as a result..
rip frenchy!!!!