Worker in Zellwood Mushroom Plant Crushed by Pallets

June 13, 2016

A Tavares man was killed after being crushed by pallets of dirt and mushrooms at a Zellwood processing plant.

The 45-year-old man was moving pallets with a forklift late Monday night — some weighing between 800 to 1,000 pounds — at Monterey Mushrooms on Sadler Road when the stack of trays started shaking, according to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office report.

The man jumped off the forklift and tried to run, but the pallets fell on him, according to a witness.

He was taken to Florida Hospital Apopka, where he was pronounced dead.

Deputies and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

Monterey Mushrooms has not released a statement.

The aftermath of a crush injury can be devastating. Sadly, crushing accidents are one of the top killers when it comes to workplace accidents. Because of the serious nature of these injuries, employers have an obligation to make sure that their workers are protected from crush injuries at all times.

If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a crush injury, our Florida Worker’s Compensation Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help. We understand the physical pain and emotional scarring these types of injuries can cause. We also know the stress that a crush injury can place on a family. If the injury occurred in the workplace, most likely one could make a financial recovery through a workers compensation case, however, often times a third party or outside vendor will be responsible and thus standard negligence laws and methods of monetary redress are available, similar to that of a car accident case. We welcome you to meet with us for a free consultation to discuss your options.

Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to find out how we may be able to assist with your injury or wrongful death claim.