Fatal Kelowna crane collapse still under criminal investigation

The collapse of a tower crane at a downtown Kelowna construction site that claimed five lives is still being investigated by Kelowna RCMP.

“It’s an extremely active investigation still, both as a criminal investigation of negligence causing death as well as the current WorkSafeBC investigation,” RCMP Supt. Kara Triance said during a news conference yesterday, Sept. 14.

She did not provide any further details of the investigation but Section 219.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada says a person is criminally negligent if they “show wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons.”

The maximum penalty for criminal negligence, according to the Code, is life imprisonment.

The crane collapsed on July 12 as it was being taken down from its job on the Brooklyn condo tower on St. Paul Street.

Four workers died along with another man working in an office next door.

READ MORE: Five men dead in Kelowna crane collapse

WorkSafeBC would not say when it’s investigation of the collapse might wind up.

“The purpose of our investigation is to identify the cause of the incident, including any contributing factors, so that similar incidents can be prevented from happening in the future,” a communications officer with WorkSafeBC said in an email to iNFOnews.ca. “Each case is unique so I cannot provide a timeline.”

READ MORE: More than $500K raised for families of men killed in Kelowna crane collapse

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