Ontario Construction News staff writer
A coroner’s inquest into the deaths of three construction workers who were all hit by motor vehicles at separate construction sites will begin next Aug. 8.
Lawrence Brubacher-Horst, 24, died in March 2018, Talbot Bouwman, 55, died later that year in October and Adam Chmielarz, 31, died in December 2020.
The joint inquest will look at the circumstances surrounding their deaths and the jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.
Brubacher-Horst was pronounced dead at the scene the morning of March 13, 2018 after Regional police responded to a crash on Boomer Line between Herrgott and Moser Young roads.
Police said he was standing on top of a flatbed trailer loading a piece of construction equipment when a car hit the trailer’s ramp and became airborne, striking Brubacher-Horst before flying over the truck and crashing into a ditch more than 10 metres away, snapping a hydro pole in half.
A 19-year-old Listowel man was charged with careless driving several months later.
Jennifer Scott will be the presiding officer and Peter Napier will be inquest counsel. The inquest is expected to last nine days. Inquests into deaths that occur on the job at a construction site are mandatory under the Coroners Act.
The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Jennifer Scott will be the Presiding Officer and Peter Napier will be Inquest Counsel.
The inquest will be conducted by video conference. Members of the public who wish to view the proceedings can click on the link.