Tampa Worker Killed in Wood Chipper Accident

By Danielle Briones

Published on July 22, 2005

"A piece of wood got stuck, and he tried to clear it out," said 12-year-old witness Luis Santiago. "But he got pulled in. He yelled, 'Help me! Help me!' But the other worker couldn't turn the machine off in time."

Authorities have not released the man's name, but say he was in his mid-40s and worked for James Hardman Construction, and had been with the company about a year.

He is the fourth person in the Tampa area to die in recent years after being pulled into a wood chipper.

"These are incredibly dangerous types of equipment,"Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesman J.D. Callaway said. "Usually what happens is something gets stuck, and the victim tries to clear it with his hand or foot, then they get pulled in."

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Keyword Tags: personal injury, construction accidents, wrongful death

Comments

1

Wood chippers do not have a brain,People that use them should use their own Wood chippers are dangerous, the people that operate them do know that. It is my job to supervise these people. No matter how hard I try. They don't get it. So if a piece of wood gets stuck, and if they are that stupid to stick there leg or arm into this machine, it is their own stupidity

Bryan, about 3 years ago

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