Industrial accident suspected in disappearance at Crofton mill

An investigation was underway on Wednesday after a man went missing at the Catalyst mill in Crofton on Tuesday evening.

The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP were called to the mill just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday after a man making a delivery of wood chips for Marpole Transportation disappeared and was believed to have been involved in an industrial accident.

“Officers attended to the scene, and determined that there was enough to support the belief that the driver had been taken by a conveyor belt, and carried into one of the storage silos,” RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jon Stuart said. “There is nothing to suggest a criminal act at this time.”

The identity of the missing driver was not revealed, but police confirmed his family and the transport company had been notified of the situation.

The mill was shut down on Wednesday as WorkSafeBC headed up an investigation.

“This is a work in progress,” Catalyst Director of Organization Development and Communications Eduarda Hodgins said. “Everybody is working really diligently to get through this. It’s a very sad situation.”