Media

Man Crushed In Construction Accident in Arlington

Release Date: December 8, 2005

A truck driver who had just delivered a load of iron sewer culverts to a construction site was killed this morning when one of the huge pipes rolled onto him.

It happened in Arlington just after 8 a.m. along a service road near Highway 70, just west of Paul Barret Parkway (State Route 385).

Sheriff’s Investigators have identified the victim as Richard Salls, 52, of Columbus, Georgia, a truck driver for Hornady Transportation Company based in Monroeville, Alabama.

According to witnesses, Salls had driven the tractor-trailer to the site of a new water treatment plant under construction in Arlington.

When a forklift operator began removing the iron pipes, the load on the trailer shifted and one of the culverts rolled onto Salls as he stood near the cab of the truck. The culvert, about 20 feet long, weighed 2000 pounds.

Salls was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was hurt.

Deputies and officials with the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the tragic accident.