Media outlets released a story about a construction worker who was killed on Friday, February 21. The man was working at the Bayport Container Terminal when he was killed.
Preliminary reports indicated that the worker was operating a truck called a mule. This truck offloads containers from a ship. The container did not fully detach from the crane that was moving it and the truck was lifted into the air.
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The International Longshoremen’s Association took the story to social media on February 22. They identified the man as 40-year-old John Tyler of Houston Local 24.
They added details to the story that were not released via the media outlets. They stated that Tyler was offloading a container ship named Maersk Detroit. The container was still attached to the truck when the crane lifted both the container and truck about 40 feet off of the ground.
Witnesses stated that the truck came crashing to the ground with Tyler still on it. He was pronounced dead at the scene from the injuries he sustained in the accident.
The Port of Houston Authority is investigating what went wrong and why the accident happened.
Bob Fiore, the International Longshoremen’s Association Safety Director, is investigating the accident. By his side is Charles Montgomery, the International Longshoreman’s Association Safety Representative.
The International Longshoremen’s Association coordinated with the Houston chapter and sent grief counselors for members this last weekend.
They are hoping that the investigation done by their safety director will help in avoiding future accidents like this one. The president of the association made the comment that the accident was senseless and preventable.
Video of the incident was released by media outlets. It showed the truck with the damage from the fall. The windows had been broken out of it and there was debris scattered all around it.
The accident is still being investigated by both organizations. Updates will be made available once their investigations are complete.