The red X shows where the victim was found. The yellow circles show his sunglasses and hat beneath the truck. Photo obtained via Kentucky open records request, edited by Kentucky FACE.
Case report #: 25KY028
Date of report: Feb. 2, 2026
Issued by: Kentucky State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program
A 27-year-old concrete finisher had worked for his employer, a concrete contractor, for 2½ years. On the day of the incident, the worker arrived at a residential jobsite with a dump truck containing 5,000 pounds of gravel. The victim backed the truck into the driveway and raised the hydraulically controlled dump bed 2 feet. The victim, the job supervisor and another worker then began unloading the gravel with a mini skid steer. The victim noticed hydraulic fluid on the driveway and discovered a leaking hose that controlled the raise/lower functions of the dump bed. According to a representative from the employer, the supervisor instructed the victim to ignore the mechanical issue, stating he would call a mechanic to repair it. The supervisor and other worker proceeded to the backyard. While unloading and spreading gravel, the supervisor noticed the victim was not present. After calling out and receiving no response, the supervisor walked from the back of the house to the driveway. He found the victim caught between the frame of the truck and the dump bed, which still contained about 3,000 pounds of gravel. First responders arrived and used hydraulic tools and wooden wedges to extract the victim, who was noted as “obviously deceased.” Cause of death was listed as traumatic asphyxia and blunt force trauma. Investigators concluded that the victim positioned himself between the frame rail of the truck and the dump bed to tighten the leaking hydraulic hose fitting but in error loosened the fitting, which resulted in the hose disconnecting completely. As a result, the hydraulic system lost pressure and the bed collapsed, crushing the victim. A representative from the involved company stated that their policy does not allow employees to perform maintenance on equipment.
To prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
- Prohibit performing maintenance on dump beds while in the raised position. If a bed cannot be lowered, require use of blocking and bracing devices.
- Implement a documented daily inspection procedure.
- Implement a formal scope of work program and prohibit employees from performing duties outside their scope of work.
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication