STONY MOUNTAIN, MAN.–A 15-year-old boy died in a horrific construction accident yesterday when he was buried under a mountain of searing-hot asphalt.

The boy, too young to work on construction jobs under Manitoba labour laws, was part of a paving crew working on a parking lot in the Winnipeg bedroom community of Stony Mountain.

"I believe (the truck) dumped off way too much asphalt unexpectedly," said Stony Mountain fire Chief Wallace Drysdale.

"I was one of the first members on scene and we just saw the hair sticking out of this individual. It was extremely hot asphalt. Our crews, when we were digging out, had to shuttle different members in and out in about four- or five-minute intervals because our feet were burning."

Police and labour officials were investigating.

Richard Hill, who lives less than 100 metres from the accident scene, heard screaming and ran over.

"I guess it was the truck driver that said, `There's a guy buried in here' and I ... found a shovel, and me and another guy tried digging him out," Hill said.

It took about 15 minutes to get the teen out. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"We got to the back of his head and there was no movement," Hill said. "We pretty much knew there wouldn't be any hope because of the heat and the weight of that (asphalt). There's no way a person can breathe with asphalt."

RCMP said they had identified the boy but were not releasing his name immediately at the request of his family.

Manitoba workplace health and safety officials were trying to figure out how the accident occurred and would not comment.

Having teenagers work at such jobs is not uncommon, according to Drysdale. "It's usually a good summer job for them."

However, Manitoba's Employment Standards Code bars people younger than 16 from working on construction sites, as well as other industrial locations where there are drilling rigs and scaffolding. The RCMP didn't say whether charges would be laid.

The death has touched everyone in Stony Mountain, Drysdale said.

"Our (fire department) members knew this person, 'cause it's a small town," he said. "It's very hard."

Hill said there were a lot of stories floating around the community as to how the asphalt got dumped on the teen.

"One rumour I heard is that asphalt sticks in the box (of a truck), and I guess he banged it and the whole load came down on him," Hill said.

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"I never really talked to the driver or anybody there. There was nothing really being said ... the truck driver was in shock."





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