Driver Missing After Crane Plunges Into Wapiti River
A 300-ton crane went through the railing of a bridge near Grande Prairie on Tuesday. Search efforts continue as divers await calmer waters.
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A driver is missing after a commercial crane crashed through the railing of Wapiti River Bridge near Grande Prairie on Tuesday and sank into the water below.
RCMP, fire, and search-and-rescue teams responded to the scene. The vehicle remains submerged, and the cause is under investigation. Divers have been unable to enter the river because the current is too strong.
Corp. Mathew Howell said police plan to use sonar technology next week to continue the search. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety confirmed Wednesday that the driver was still missing and opened a workplace investigation into the incident.
Tributes have poured in on social media. One woman wrote that the tragedy affects "far more than those directly involved. They ripple through families, workplaces, friendships, and an entire community." The victim was a J.D.A. Ventures employee, a well-known Grande Prairie company.