Man dies after being pinned under loader on Cypress Mountain Resort in Metro Vancouver

The operator of a front-end loader died after being pinned underneath his vehicle at the Cypress Mountain Resortin Metro Vancouver on Tuesday, according to police.

On Wednesday, police said the man was 26 years old and from Ontario, but his name has not been released.

Sgt. Mark McLeanwith theWest Vancouver Police Departmentsaid the incident happened around 4:20 p.m. PT Tuesday, when afront-end loader also known as a scoop loader or bucket loader began moving unassisted down the mountain slope.

"He attempted to try to gain control of the vehicle while it was rolling down the hill and unfortunately, while he was trying to do that, the vehicle overturned on top of him and he got caught underneath. That caused his death," McLeansaid.

The man was declared dead at the scene.

McLean said the victim was part of a group of workers dismantling a coaster-typeridethat runs down Cypress Mountain.

McLean said that police would continue to investigate the incident in conjunction with B.C.'s workplace regulator, WorkSafeBC.

"It's still early days in terms of figuring out what led to that vehicle to go into motion when he wasn't in it," said McLean.

Police have confirmed the man's next-of-kin are in Ontario andhavebeen notified of his death.

A WorkSafeBC spokesperson confirmed in an email that the agency is looking into the incident.

CBC News has contacted Cypress Mountain Resort for more information, but has yet to receive a reply.

The resort also colloquially referred to as the Cypress Bowl is one of several ski resorts on Metro Vancouver's North Shore.

It is located in West Vancouver and usually opens for the winter skiing season at the end of November.