A forklift operator has died after an accident involving a heavy steel beam early Thursday morning.
The accident happened shortly after 1 a.m. at the Infra-Metals in 24th Avenue in South Tampa.
Preliminary information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is that 51-year-old Ricardo McCalop was operating the forklift, carrying the beam, when the machine suddenly broke. The beam slid backwards toward the forklift cage and crushed McCalop.
A tow truck has arrived on scene to remove the beam and investigators are investigating what happened.
His family arrived shortly before 5 a.m. and could be seen crying and consoling each other.
