RCMP recommends criminal charges for crane collapse
The investigation included dozens of police officers and countless hours of evidence gathering and analysis
Key Takeaways:
- The collapse investigation has concluded and a report has been submitted to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) for charge assessment for criminal negligence causing death.
- The 2021 collapse killed five people, including four workers at the construction site and one office worker in a nearby building.
- The Kelowna RCMP added that it is unable to provide additional details with respect to the investigation or findings.
The Whole Story:
The Kelowna RCMP has wrapped its investigation into a deadly 2021 crane collapse, recommending criminal charges.
Kelowna RCMP announced that its Serious Crime Unit has completed its comprehensive investigation into the collapse and a report has been submitted to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) for charge assessment for criminal negligence causing death.
They did not indicate who the charges could be for.
On the morning of July 12, 2021, a crane collapsed in the downtown core of Kelowna, resulting in the deaths of four people on site and one office worker in a nearby building. The crane was being dismantled at the Brooklyn tower portion of the Bernard Block development.
The RCMP stated that the extremely complex investigation needed to be done methodically and thoroughly in order to protect its integrity. They added that they will be working closely with the BCPS to ensure prosecutors are best equipped on the facts of the case to make an informed decision on charges.
“This investigation included dozens of police officers and countless hours of evidence gathering and analysis,” said Kelowna Superintendent Kara Triance. “The gravity of this incident and the associated work to understand what happened has been tremendous. We will work to support our partners and our community through the next steps.”
The Kelowna RCMP added that it is unable to provide additional details with respect to the investigation or findings.
It isn’t the only legal trouble to stem from the incident. The spouse of a man killed by a crane collapse in Kelowna has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence caused her husband’s death.
According to a notice of claim filed in the Supreme Court of B.C., Helen Furuya is suing Stemmer Construction and other unnamed companies and individuals for the death of her husband, Brad Zawislak. The senior technologist was working in a Kelowna office building when a catastrophic failure caused the construction crane to fall.
