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McDonald’s mourns employee killed in snowmobile fall

McDonald's closed both Whitehorse franchises on Monday to mourn an employee who died in a snowmobile accident on the weekend. "We are deeply saddened by this terrible accident," wrote McDonald's manager Mike Thorpe in a prepared statement.

McDonald’s closed both Whitehorse franchises on Monday to mourn an employee who died in a snowmobile accident on the weekend.

“We are deeply saddened by this terrible accident,” wrote McDonald’s manager Mike Thorpe in a prepared statement.

The death of a 32-year-old female employee has shaken the staff, said Chris Stannell, a McDonald’s spokesperson based at the Vancouver office.

“The staff and management are mourning and healing right now,” said Stannell.

Flags at the restaurant’s Fourth Avenue location were flown at half-mast on Monday and the Walmart restaurant outlet was closed too.

“We are working diligently to provide support to the family and our restaurant staff, all of whom worked closely with her,” wrote Thorpe in his statement.

Police have not released the name of the deceased, but continue to investigate the incident, which occurred near the Fraser Customs station in BC.

The woman was travelling with a passenger on Sunday afternoon and fell on her steering wheel after falling off a ridge. The passenger was not injured. Both were wearing helmets.

The woman was taken to the customs station but had already died by the time medical personnel arrived, the RCMP said in a news released.

The woman’s death was likely due to inexperience with a snowmobile, said police. (James Munson)