Snowplow operators ask to keep children from digging tunnels near roads

MONCTON – Snow plow operators in the province are warning New Brunswickers to keep children from digging tunnels near roadways.

It’s a snowplow operator’s worst nightmare, the constant fear of accidentally burying a child at play while they’re trying to widen the streets.

“It’s always on your mind,” said Nathan Orr from Riverview Public Works. “Kids playing in snow banks is a big issue.

“There is tunneling going on in Riverview for sure next to the road and I have had to talk to a few kids there and try to explain to them how dangerous it really is.”

What kid doesn’t love to build snow tunnels and forts, especially with so much snow to play with?

But Don McCabe from the Moncton Fire Department says parents who let their kids tunnel in the snow close to the road are taking a huge risk.

“When they’re pushing those banks back they will collapse those tunnels and they can’t see the kids,” he said.

McCabe actually says kids shouldn’t be tunneling in the snow at all.

“That could possibly collapse causing tons and tons of snow to fall on somebody,” he said.

It was a year ago Feb. 5 that a nine-year-old Ontario boy died after getting trapped in a snow tunnel in front of his home.

Orr says every plow operator lives in fear of a similar tragedy happening here. That’s why crews widening roads using massive blowers in Riverview are on the lookout for tunnels with kids hidden inside.

“We have one spotter truck that does ahead and spots for tunnels,” he said. “I go around and patrol the areas too and try to make sure that there is no tunneling going on.”

Thursday morning, Orr reminded his operators to watch out for the little ones and ask that parents do the same.