MONTREAL – A father is dead and his son is recovering in hospital after the window-washing crane the pair were working on suddenly fell over Sunday morning in downtown Montreal.
The crane was operating on the corner of Saint-Denis Street and René-Levesque Boulevard at the time of the incident.
Benoit Boisselle with Montreal police said that the father and son team, were on an access platform when the crane started tipping over.
The son, 19, was ejected from the platform and fell to the ground. He was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Jean-Pierre Brabant, spokesperson with Montreal police told Global News that the son’s life is no longer in danger.
“He suffered injuries to his nose and face,” Brabant said. “But he didn’t hit his head.”
The father, 53, was trapped under the crane. He was declared dead on site.
Bernard Montpellier, spokesperson for Urgences-Santé said that four or five other people were evaluated and treated for shock.
The CSST, Quebec’s Workplace Health and Safety Board, is heading the investigation and will be assisted by Montreal police.
Saint-Denis Street, which was closed for most of the day to allow crews to safely remove the crane, was re-opened to traffic at 7:30 p.m.