SAN FRANCISCO — Olivier Rochette, 42, was killed during setup for Cirque du Soleil’s Luzia in San Francisco Nov. 29. The accident, involving a telescopic lift, was first reported to emergency responders at about 6:45 pm, according to reports. Rochette, son of Cirque du Soleil co-founder Gilles Ste-Croix, was rushed to a hospital with a head injury but died at 10:37 p.m. He had been working as a technician on the show at the time of the accident.
“It is with immense sadness that we report a fatal accident,” Cirque du Soleil said in a news release. “One of our employees, a technician on the show, was struck by a lift and passed away from his injuries.” The Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 performances were canceled, and Cirque du Soleil offered its fully cooperation to help authorities investigate the cause of the accident.
“I am heartbroken,” Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre said in a statement released Nov. 30, after Rochette’s family had been notified. “Olivier has always been a member of our tight family and a beloved colleague.”
Luzia, a Cirque show with a Mexican theme, is a touring production with a cast of 44 performers featured in a tent specifically designed for the show. It premiered in Montreal from April 21 to July 10, then moved to Toronto from July 28 to Oct. 16. It opened in San Francisco on Nov. 17 and was due to run through Jan. 22, 2017.
The custom Big Top-style tent for the Cirque production in San Francisco is located in a lot adjacent to AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
