Pile falls on excavator, driver killed

An excavator operator was killed when a pile fell on his excavator during work on Merwedeweg in Breukelen on Friday. The accident happened near Kanaaldijk West, next to a building under construction, AD reports.

The pile - a kind of pole used to bear weight in buildings with deep foundation - fell from a pile driver onto the excavator. The driver of the excavator was trapped. The pile was removed from the excavator with a truck before the emergency services arrived, but the victim already succumbed to his injuries.

The police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, also using a drone to take aerial photos of the scene.

The victim's family was informed. His colleagues were taken to nearby company Salmen Kipp, where victim assistance was offered to them.