5 days ago
Swift News
A company based on central Vancouver Island has been reprimanded after its articulated rock truck and driver fell into Nitinaht Lake, about 100 kilometres northwest of Victoria — an incident that was captured in a stunning viral video posted on social media.
In a Facebook post, Port Alberni-based Roc-Star Enterprises says the incident occurred on Aug. 26, 2025, during a fish habitat restoration project.
The dramatic video shows a large truck carrying about a dozen logs operating near a shoreline. The vehicle drives parallel to the water and then drops into the lake as the ground gives way.
"Thankfully the experienced operator was also an experienced swimmer and was able to exit the vehicle and swim to safety without injury. He handled the situation remarkably well," the company wrote.
"This event underscores the critical importance of continuous risk assessment in dynamic environments, particularly when working in or near water."
As of Sept. 16, the video has nearly 300,000 views on Facebook.
The post says the company decided to share the video to "raise awareness and support safer practices industry wide."
"The incident serves as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable nature of shoreline work and the need for ongoing vigilance, planning and safety training across all levels of heavy industry," the post says.
