The man killed in an industrial accident at an east Mountain tile store is a Kitchener resident employed by a Cambridge company contracted to do work there.
Mitchell Hentges, 53, died Wednesday after being trapped under the debris of tiles and cement bags after a rack collapsed in the rear warehouse at Centura Tile at 140 Nebo Rd.
Emergency crews responded to a call from Centura staff around 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Hentges died at the scene.
Hentges was employed by DC Racking and Maintenance in Cambridge, a company specializing in warehouse rack inspections and repairs. A pickup truck with that company's name was seen at a parking lot near the store Wednesday, but its connection to the accident was not confirmed to The Spectator until Thursday, by the Ministry of Labour.
We are a small and close group and have lost a member of our family.
Rolfe Redmann
DC Racking president
"We are all shocked and saddened by this tragedy," DC Racking company president Rolfe Redmann said Thursday. "Mitch was a wonderful member of our team and will be greatly missed. We are a small and close group and have lost a member of our family."
Redmann said the company is co-operating with the Ministry of Labour's investigation into the accident and will not comment further until it's completed.
"Right now, our focus is on grieving with Mitch's family, friends and colleagues. Our thoughts are with all of them."
Ministry of Labour spokesperson Matt Blajer said two of its inspectors, and a structural engineer, were on site investigating Wednesday.
An unidentified spokesperson at Centura said ministry inspectors were still on site Thursday and the store, which locked its front doors and posted a closed sign after the incident, remains closed until further notice. The spokesperson also said the company did not wish to comment further at this time.
The Hamilton store is one of 14 Centura locations across Canada, and one of its 12 tile branches, according to the company website.
Hentges' sister Bonnie Sanche said her brother started working for the Cambridge firm in April, after more than 20 years at a Kitchener furniture maker. The furniture company closed last year, moving operations to Michigan and putting 230 out of work.
Hentges, an avid baseball fan and football enthusiast, lived with his parents. He is also survived by five siblings.
905-526-3392 | @CarmatTheSpec
With files from Liz Monteiro, Waterloo Region Record
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