Inquest begins into Sudbury contractor's death
It was emotional at times for the family of 59-year-old Ronald Lepage as the inquest into his death began.
Ron 'Ronnie' Lepage was killed after a workplace accident involving a dump truck at Vale's Copper Cliff mine site. (Cooperative Funeral Home)Lepage was working in April 2017 at the Copper Cliff refinery on Vale property. He was driving a dump truck when there was an incident with the liftgate.
Staff Sgt. Adam Walden testified his officer was told by Lepage that he had gotten out to inspect the gate when he heard air coming from underneath.
He went to check the situation when the truck lurched forward, pinning him underneath the vehicle.
It took first responders 45 minutes to free him from the situation.
"I got to see him, he was underneath the truck. He was talking and they were trying to lift it up and they weren't having any success at first," said his brother Tim, who worked with him at Cecchetto & Sons.
Tim, who worked as a heavy-duty mechanic, testified he was at the shop when he received the call that there had been an incident.
A co-worker drove him over to Vale to see his brother and then over to the hospital where Lepage later died from his critical injuries.
Due to Ontario law, the coroner must hold an inquest to look into the cause of death and what final recommendations can be made. In Lepage's case, they've convened a jury.
Crown counsel plans on calling 14 witnesses over a five-day period and a jury will make the final determination regarding his death.
Along with Walden and Lepage's brother, a health and safety expert testified along with an inspector from the Ministry of Labour on Monday.
Walden testified officers on the scene had found no level of criminality and no charges had been laid at the time.
Lepage left behind two adult children and two grandchildren, whom he had met a short time before the incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.