Farm accident kills boy, 10, while driving forklift

A 10-year-old boy has died following a farming accidentnear Killam, Alta., Saturday after the forklift he was driving rolled on him.

The boy wasdriving theforklift on a gravel roadway atthe family farm at around 11 a.m. when he lost control, RCMP said.

The machine drove into a ditch and rolled over.

People nearby attempted to administer first aid, but the boy was pronounced dead atthe scene, police said.

Members of the family said theboy had operated the forklift inthe past and was familiar with its operation.

Police said they are not identifyingthechild out of respect for the family's privacy.

The accident comes weeks after three girls died after they weresmothered by canola in a back of a truck west of Red Deer last month.

The accident led to calls for better protection of children on farms.

Occupational Health and Safety says itdoes not have jurisdiction over farms and therefore isnot able to investigate theincident.

"To be able to go out into a farm or ranch and identify what happened and what contributed to the incident and to take steps to prevent it from happening again, I mean that's all positive," said spokespersonPamSharpe.

Last week the government introducedlegislation that subjectsAlberta farms and ranchesto occupational health and safety regulations for the very first time.