Accident kills repairman

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.telegram.com/article/20080101/NEWS/801010474/1116

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Crane tire flies off, hurls man into forklift

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[e-mail]

WORCESTER— A 59-year-old Intransit Container Inc. employee was killed yesterday morning when a tire on a large industrial vehicle somehow flew off, striking him and throwing him into a nearby forklift.

Paul Harding of Spencer was pronounced dead at 10:18 a.m. after he had been taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus. The accident was reported around 9:37 a.m.

Police Sgt. Gary J. Quitadamo said Mr. Harding suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body.

“For some reason, something tragically went wrong and the tire was propelled off the machine with great force and struck the victim,” the sergeant said. “The tire hit him, throwing him and the tire into another piece of equipment.”

Mr. Harding was changing a tire on the vehicle at the time of the accident. The thick, six-foot-high rubber tire came off with massive force, police said.

It is unclear where Mr. Harding was standing when he was struck by the tire; he was alone when the accident occurred.

FULL story at link.