Body of crane driver recovered 3 weeks after crash into northern Alberta river

A damaged guardrail is pictured on the Wapiti River Bridge after a commercial crane drove off the bridge and went into the water, near Grande Prairie, Alta., on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/William Vavrek

Crews have recovered the body of the man operating a crane that crashed into a northern Alberta river last month.

The machine went over the Wapiti River Bridge, just south of Grande Prairie, Alta., the morning of June 16.

RCMP and divers were unable to recover the man’s body at the time because currents were too strong. They have now confirmed his death.

The cause of the crash is still unknown. Federal occupational health and safety officials are investigating.

The crane itself is still being recovered from the river. RCMP asks the public to keep drones and boats out of the area as crews work to recover the machinery.