66-year-old truck driver Rickey Amos Pilkington killed by falling pipe while unloading shipment of steel pipes at Vulcan Painters in Bessemer, AL

66-year-old truck driver Rickey Amos Pilkington killed by falling pipe while unloading shipment of steel pipes at Vulcan Painters in Bessemer, AL

The accident happened at Vulcan Painters in Bessemer on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.
 


66-year-old truck driver killed by falling pipe while unloading shipment
September 6, 2018



By Carol Robinson

crobinson@al.com


A 66-year-old northern Jefferson County man was killed in an industrial accident in Bessemer.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Rickey Amos Pilkington. He lived in Morris.

Pilkington, authorities said, was a truck driver. On Wednesday morning, he picked up a load of pipe from U.S. Pipe in Bessemer and delivered it to Vulcan Painters on Woodward Road, also in Bessemer.

As Pilkington prepared to unload the shipment, the top row came crashing down on him. He was struck by the falling load, and pronounced dead on the scene at 8:57 a.m.

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66-year-old truck driver Rickey Amos Pilkington killed by falling pipe while unloading shipment of steel pipes at Vulcan Painters in Bessemer, AL

Rickey Amos Pilkington passed away after a tragic accident on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at age 66. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sharon Pilkington; one son, Rickey Allen Pilkington; one brother, Ralph (Marilyn) Cotton; one sister, Shelby Creel; sister-in-law, Cathy Cotton; and a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordy and Louise Pilkington; two brothers, Marvin Cotton and Ronnie Brasher; and one sister, Carolyn Wilson. He proudly served his country in the US Marine Corps. Rickey worked as a truck driver for many years. Visitation will be Sunday, September 9, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at The New Gardendale Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 2:00 p.m. with burial at Liberty Minter Cemetery.