Forklift tips over, killing man

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 | 9:53 a.m.

A young lumber yard worker was killed early today when a forklift he was operating overturned and crushed him, North Las Vegas Police and and state safety officials said.

Police were called to the Glendale Truss Co. yard at 6255 Range Road, at 12:24 a.m. and found the man dead under the equipment.

Attempts had been made to rescue the man by using other heavy equipment, police said.

"It appeared the victim was driving the forklift and trying to make a left turn when it toppled, pinning (him) underneath," spokesman Officer Tim Bedwell said.

Police determined that no crime had been committed and turned the matter over to the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which until March 8 was known as the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section.

Nevada OSHA Chief Administrative Officer Tom Czehowski said an inspector was dispatched to the scene at 2:30 a.m. and was still there at 8:30 a.m. today.

There were no preliminary findings as to what caused the accident and or whether there were any citable workplace safety offenses involved, Czehowski said.

North Las Vegas Police said from information they gathered at the scene the dead man's age was 19. But Czehowski said his records show the man's age was 21.

Czehowski would not confirm the company for which the dead man worked. His name was not immediately released pending notification of relatives.

Czehowski said Knipp Bros. Industry, which shares the site with the Glendale Truss, alerted authorities of the incident.

A woman who answered the phone at Knipp Brothers/Glendale Truss today said the company is declining to comment on the incident or answer news media inquiries about the dead man.