Mont-Tremblant Accident: Fatal Incident Caused by Drill Collision with Gondola

A tragic accident occurred in Mont-Tremblant on Sunday, resulting in one fatality and serious injury to another person. The accident was caused by a drill colliding with the gondola, according to the Quebec Provincial Police (SQ).

The presence of the drill underneath the cable cars on the south slope of the mountain remains unexplained, said SQ spokesperson Éric Cadotte during an interview on ICI RDI.

"It is unclear why the drill was in operation beneath the gondolas," Cadotte stated.

Sources have informed Radio-Canada that two cable cars were struck by the drill—one with two occupants and the other unoccupied. Two individuals from Ontario were inside the cable car at the time of the collision. They were ejected and fell several meters at a point midway between the base and the summit of the mountain.

On Monday afternoon, the identity of the victim was revealed as Sheldon Johnson, a 50-year-old man from Kingston. The woman who was with him in the cable car was transported to a hospital in Montreal and remains in critical condition.

Mont-Tremblant Accident

The drill operator, described as a subcontractor in their thirties, was reportedly attempting to relocate the drill in preparation for work scheduled for the following day. The accident occurred during this process. The operator experienced severe emotional distress and was taken to the hospital. They will be questioned by the police.

Maxime Patry, the president of Forage M2P Inc., issued a statement expressing condolences to the victim's family. He confirmed that a subcontractor was involved in relocating the drill from the site using a prescribed path determined by the owner of Mont-Tremblant.

The statement indicated that these tragic events appear to be an isolated incident resulting from human error, miscommunication, or mechanical failure.

"The investigation will define the cause of the accident; therefore, it is premature and reckless to speculate on any particular hypothesis," emphasized the company president.

The Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) has deployed investigators to the scene who are collaborating with the Quebec Provincial Police.

Inspectors from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec also conducted tests on the cable car where the tragedy occurred.

Investigators will attempt to determine if all equipment was in motion at the time of the accident. If the apparatus has a mast, they will examine whether only the mast was functioning upon impact.

As of now, the police have not filed any criminal charges in this case. They also intend to interview the injured woman once she is able to provide a statement.

Cable Cars Temporarily Suspended Until Further Notice

Station Mont-Tremblant (SMT) lowered its flags as a sign of respect for the accident victims' families, according to Annique Aird, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at SMT.

The cable car system resumed operations gradually on Monday, although it remains closed to the public until further notice. Some limited activities at the base of the mountain may resume shortly, stated Aird.

Under normal circumstances, the cable cars allow visitors to ascend to the summit of the mountain at an altitude of 875 meters, providing a view of the Laurentian panorama.

Aird assured that SMT follows protocols and acknowledged that everyone is questioning what happened on Sunday. "The investigation will provide the answers," she emphasized.

SMT staff members are going through a difficult time, added Aird. "Yesterday was so sudden! Today, we are all trying to make sense of it and asking ourselves, 'Wow, what just happened?'"

Union Questions Safety Protocol Compliance

The Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses de la Station du Mont-Tremblant (Union of Mont-Tremblant Station Workers) is puzzled by how such a dangerous maneuver could occur despite the existing protocols.

According to Benoit Fillion, the union's president, when machinery is involved, workers are expected to comply with specific rules to avoid hindering the operation of a ski lift.

"There was likely a deviation," Fillion stated during an interview on Tout un matin aired on ICI Première.

Safety Expert Highlights Possible Gap in Safety Measures

François Simard, Vice President of a company specializing in prevention and workplace safety, stated in an interview that there was probably a gap in the measures that should have been taken at the worksite.

However, Simard emphasized that only the investigation will provide further insights into the causes of this tragic accident. He pointed out that before conducting work on a construction site, risks must be analyzed, and compliance with Quebec's legal regulations must be ensured.

Managing a construction site involves several stages, explained Simard. "Catastrophic risks," which pose the highest risks on a worksite, occur when there is a possibility of individuals suffering fatal impacts.

Fatal Incident Caused by Drill Collision with Gondola

To ensure the safety of both workers and the public, specific distances must be maintained.

Workers on construction sites should be trained in the constraints associated with operating equipment in motion. This type of equipment cannot be used freely, especially when there is a risk of impacting personnel or members of the public.

"Taking around thirty seconds in all work environments to analyze the situation before proceeding should be standard practice. One thing is certain: when you take the time to do things properly, it usually saves lives," stressed Simard.

Authorities and the CNESST will examine the events, but it is evident that there may have been a lapse, noted Simard. He mentioned that criminal charges are rare in such cases.