OAKVILLE, ONTARIO — A 23-year-old man died after a cement-block wall collapsed on him at a Bronte Road construction site Wednesday.
"We are deeply saddened," David Hill, president of Ballantry Homes, said in a prepared statement. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the worker who lost his life."
Emergency crews were called to the townhouse development at Bronte Road and Dundas Street around 12:40 p.m. after reports that a man was trapped under a collapsed wall.
The man was pronounced dead. The Ministry of Labour, the coroner's office and police are investigating the accident.
Health and safety are a "top priority" for Ballantry Homes, Hill said.
"We are co-operating fully with the regulatory agencies investigating this accident."
Asked if high winds could have caused the wall to collapse, police said it was too early to comment.
Hill said the company would comment further after the investigation is finished.
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A 23-year-old man is dead after the partial collapse of a wall at a house under construction in Oakville Wednesday afternoon.
Halton Regional Police were called to the house on Bronte Road at Khalsa Gate around 12:40 p.m. for reports that one male was suffering from serious injuries.
The worker was pinned under a collapsed cement block wall, Halton Regional Police tweeted. Firefighters and paramedics attempted a rescue, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police, the Ministry of Labour and the coroner's office are investigating.
Ministry spokesperson Janet Deline told CBC Toronto that both a ministry inspector and a structural engineer went to the scene. They will look at the site, equipment and materials that may have been involved and will speak to anyone at the scene who may have relevant information, Deline said.
David Hill, president of Ballantry Homes, the builder of the home where the incident took place, released a statement saying the company is "deeply saddened.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the worker who lost his life," the statement said.
"The health and safety of everyone working on our sites is a top priority for our company. We are cooperating fully with the regulatory agencies investigating this accident."
No details about the victim will be released pending notification of next of kin, police said.
Fatal workplace injury at construction site on Bronte Rd, police & Min of Labor investigating. No further details pending NOK notice.^jd— @HRPSOak
Paul Boissonneault, deputy chief of operations at Oakville Fire, told CBC Toronto that he could not confirm whether high winds were a factor in the collapse.
Oakville is among several southern Ontario cities covered by a special weather statement calling for high winds Wednesday afternoon. As of 1 p.m., Environment Canada reported that winds were at 45 km/h, gusting to 77 km/h in the area.