2 workers killed as dozer collides with truck at Suncor mine

Two workers died Monday aftera bulldozercollidedwith a pickup truck at a northern Alberta oilsands mine.

The workers were killed at the Fort Hills mining operationaround 5:30 p.m.,Suncor Energy spokesperson Jennifer Lomastold CBC News.

Both were employees of ClearStream Mining which provides mining services at the site located 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

Both of the deceased were inside the pickup truck at the time of the collision, the RCMP said in a release Tuesday.

Thedriver, a 29-year-old man from Bloomfield, N.L., and the passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Calgary, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to RCMP spokesperson Teri-Ann Bakker.

The 58-year-old manwho was driving the bulldozerwas not injured.

Bakker said the RCMP will not be releasing the names of the deceased.

Occupational Health and Safety officials are investigating, Lomas said.

Lomas said the company officials aredeeply saddened by the deaths. She said grief counselling is being offered to all employees.

"Mining operations have been stood down while the investigation is underway and the rest of the site is focused on critical work only at this time," she said.

"It's a very sad situation. Our thoughts and deep condolences go out to the family and friends of these individuals."

ClearStream Energy Services issueda statement Tuesday, offeringcondolences to the friends and families of the deceased.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they endure this incredibly difficult time and we grieve this loss together," said CEO Yves Paletta in the statement.

The Fort Hills operation,an open-pit truck and shovel mine, is one of the largest in the Wood Buffaloregion and is capable of producing up to14,500 tonnes of oil sand per hour.

It's not known how long operations will be paused during the investigation.