An inquest into the 2013 death of a Greater Sudbury resident was announced today.
Dr. Emily Groot, the regional supervising coroner for North Region in Sudbury, issued the announcement into the death of Marc Lafreniere.
Lafreniere, 51, died Dec. 28, 2013, after becoming trapped when the excavator he was operating overturned in marshland near Sudbury.
"As a mining incident, an inquest is mandatory under the Coroners Act," the coroner's office stated. Sudbury.com has asked the coroner's office for clarification on why the incident is considered a mining incident.
The 51-year-old had been operating the excavator in a swampy area on a bush trail north of Dominion Drive in Valley East when the accident occurred. The victim was located by a fellow employee, who notified emergency services.
Emergency service personnel extricated Lafreniere, but were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Lafreniere's death, and the jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths.
The inquest is expected to last two days and hear from approximately five witnesses.
The inquest will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, at the Sudbury Court House, 155 Elm St.
Dr. Geoffrey Bond will preside as inquest coroner and Susan Stothart will be counsel to the coroner.
