Contractor working on Irving land in northern New Brunswick dies

A contractor working on J.D. Irving, Ltd. land in northern New Brunswick has died after his logging truck left a road in Madawaska County.

Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith says the truck left a woods road roughly 40 kilometres from Saint-Leonard at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

She says emergency services were called to the scene but that the driver, an employee of an independent contractor, died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Keith says Irving is actively cooperating with the investigation by police and WorkSafeNB. WorkSafeNB spokeswoman Laragh Dooley says the workplace fatality near the Veneer Sawmill is under investigation, and that a statement will be released once there is additional information to share.

Keith says the name of the driver is being withheld out of respect for the family.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this driver at this difficult time,” she said in an email Thursday. “He was wellrespected and a friend to many in our woods operations.”

J.D. Irving is a privately owned conglomerate company headquartered in Saint John, with operations in a number of industries including forestry and forest products.

According to the company’s website, the Veneer Sawmill produces lumber for kitchen cabinets, furniture composites, residential flooring, railroad ties, pallets, and truck floors.