A local paving company has pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of a worker almost three years ago.

Paradise Paving was charged last April, almost two years after the tragedy occurred on May 31, 2019.

54-year-old Gerald Hiscock was operating an asphalt spreader on a driveway in New Harbour, when he fell from the machine and was run over by it.

In provincial court this morning, it was learned the machine was broken at the time, causing it to run at full throttle and move on its own.

Paradise Paving pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to provide a safe workplace or proper supervision, and failing to make sure its equipment was working right.

The Crown is seeking a total fine of $40,000, while the company says $25,000 would be more appropriate, noting it’s the first charges they’ve faced in their 35-year history.

Said the lawyer for Paradise Paving: “This is a situation where a small company was trying to work efficiently, and in the process, didn’t manage its equipment as well as it should.”

The impact on the victim’s family was also read into the record, with some hope that he died of a heart attack rather than the trauma and weight of the machine.

Sentencing was expected today, but Judge David Orr said he wanted more time to consider a period of probation in addition to a fine.

Sentencing is now set for May 10.