Amanda Peat of St. Catharines and Robert Fulbrook of Wainfleet, both 14, were two of 32 high-school students from various schools visiting the John Deere Welland Works plant in the Niagara region of Ontario.
"Take Your Kids to Work Day" is a popular program in many parts of Canada. It allows Grade 9 students to shadow their parents for a day.
Police investigating the accident said the two teens were operating a Deere-manufactured Gator two-seater utility vehicle on their own. The vehicle has a maximum speed of about 30 kilometres an hour.
Det. Sgt. Scott McLean, of Niagara Regional Police, said the teens suffered fatal injuries when the vehicle hit a parked trailer, then passed underneath it.
The two teens died in hospital.
John Deere has stopped production at the Welland plant, and has grief counsellors to be available for both students and employees.
The company, the Ministry of Labour and the provincial coroner are investigating the accident.
"I'll be looking into having the investigation and determining whether it's in the interest of public safety whether or not we'll be holding an inquest into the deaths," said Coroner Dr. Darryl Wolski.
Education Minister Janet Ecker, at times overcome with emotion, told reporters her heart went out the families.
"It's an absolute tragedy whenever a young person dies," she said.
A spokesman for the program said the host organizations are responsible for the children's safety.
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