Trooper Update: 62-Year-Old Man Dies After Loader Falls Into Delaware River In Claymont
by Staff Writer · Published February 22, 2018
Claymont- Delaware State Police are currently conducting a death investigation at Ocean Port LLC, located at 6200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, that occurred at approximately 9:59 a.m., Thursday, February 22, 2018, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.
Austin said the preliminary investigation has determined that a 62-year-old male employee was operating a front end loader on an elevated pier, and for an undetermined reason, traveled off the pier into the water below. The victim was recovered and subsequently pronounced dead on scene by EMS, said Austin.
The body has been turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science where an autopsy will be performed to determine the manner and cause of death. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending the notification of his next of kin.
The investigation is in the very early stages. Further details will be released upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Breaking Report
Claymont – New Castle County first responders have recovered the body of a forklift operator from the Delaware River.
At 9:59 this morning rescue crews from the New Castle County Dive Team, three area marine units and Trooper 4 responded to a pier, located in the 6200 block of Philadelphia Pike for reports of a person in the water.
Early reports from the scene indicated that for an unknown reason, the forklift fell off the side of the pier, into the water. Shortly after the arrival of first responders, it was determined that the operator had succumbed to their injuries.
It was not immediately clear how the incident occurred.
Delaware State Police are investigating.
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Delaware State Police are currently conducting an investigation into an industrial accident that claimed the life of one man who died when a piece of heavy equipment he was operating fell into the Delaware River.
The incident took place at Ocean Port LLC, 6200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, occurred at 9:59 a.m. today. Oceanport handles salt shipments.
The preliminary investigation determined that a 62-year-old male employee was operating a front end loader on an elevated pier. The machine, with the operator inside, fell from the pier into the water. The man was recovered and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The body has been turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending the notification of his next of kin.
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CLAYMONT, Del. (WPVI) -- First responders have recovered the body of a worker after the front end loader he was operating plunged into the water in Delaware.
Crews were dispatched at 10 a.m. Thursday to Oceanport Industries in the 6200 block of Philadelphia Pike.
Watch video from Chopper 6 over a water rescue underway at Oceanport Industries on February 22, 2018.
After a hour-long search, crews recovered the body of the 62-year-old worker.
The man's name was being withheld pending notification of his family.
It was not immediately clear what led to the incident. An autopsy on the victim is planned.
The incident is being investigated by Delaware State Police.