‘Faulty’ top loader kills dockworker in LA
A dockworker died yesterday morning and another suffered severe injuries in an accident involving a top loader container handler at Pier 300 in the Port of Los Angeles.
According to local reports, the incident happened Wednesday morning when two mechanics were reinflating the huge tire of a top-loader, a heavy equipment used for moving materials and shipping containers, and the tire exploded. The wheels of the top handler are approximately 5 to 6 feet in diameter.
“My heart goes out to the families of the victims of this tragic accident and to all the brothers and sisters of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union,” said Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka. “It’s particularly tragic that this accident occurred on the day of the ILWU’s annual ‘First Blood’ event, which honours those who have lost their lives working on the waterfront.”
Rachel Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Port Police, said the top loader was “faulty”. Investigations into the accident continue.