Estes Express Lines, 10 Industrial Court, in Seekonk.

 

SEEKONK - An employee of a local trucking company was killed in an apparent accident when he was pinned between a forklift and cement pole.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene after police received a call around 4:40 a.m. Monday to respond to Estes Express Lines. The company is in the Industrial Park of Seekonk, at 10 Industrial Court, off Route 6.

Officers tried to resuscitate the victim, identified as 44-year-old Emile Emond Jr., but were unable to revive him, police said.

Seekonk police and state police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office are investigating, along with inspectors with the federal Occupation, Safety and Health Administration.

Lisa Rowell, a spokeswoman for Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter, said Tuesday, "At this point it does not appear to be suspicious." Police and the district attorney's office investigates all sudden deaths.

Rowell said investigators are being assisted by the state Medical Examiner's Office and are awaiting the medical examiner's final report.

Ted Fitzgerald, a spokesman for OSHA, said the agency's Braintree office was notified of a forklift accident at the company Monday and sent an investigator to the scene.

Fitzgerald said OSHA will look into what safety standards apply to the company and whether there were any violations. He said it was too early to say how long its investigation could take, but added it could take up to six months.

A woman answering the telephone at the Virginia-based company referred calls to it's corporate office in Richmond, Va. A spokeswoman at the office was unavailable Tuesday.

The company, which carries freight all over North America, was honored for its safety record at the American Trucking Association's Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council conference last month, according to a company press release.

The company has 13,000 employees nationwide and a fleet of over 30,000 tractors and trailers and a network of almost 200 terminals.

DAVID LINTON can be reached at 508-236-0338 or at dlinton@thesunchronicle.com.