Death of young boy in farm accident shocks Alberta colony

KILLAM, Alta. – An Alberta Hutterite colony is planning the funeral of a 10-year-old boy who was killed while driving a forklift on the weekend.

Mike Stahl says the death has been a shock to the 80 people who live on the Lougheed colony near Killam, southeast of Edmonton.

He says everyone knew his grandson, Joseph Stahl.

READ MORE: Boy, 10, dies after forklift rolls into ditch on Alberta farm

The boy had finished cleaning up some hog barns Saturday morning and was driving the forklift on a gravel road.

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Stahl says the machine got too close to the edge, went into a ditch and pinned his grandson underneath.

READ MORE: 3 young sisters killed in farming incident in central Alberta

RCMP have said witnesses performed first aid, but the boy had serious injuries and died at the scene.

Stahl says his grandson was familiar with the forklift and had operated it before.

READ MORE: Alberta redrawing rules on farm work, safety

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