Southbury Man Dies

Following Accident At Industrial Yard

By Andrew Gorosko

Town police and a federal workplace safety agency are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at a Sandy Hook industrial yard on Tuesday, July 24, in which an 80-year-old man who was working at his family’s business was run over by a heavy dump truck.

The intense impact severely injured the man, who died of those injuries later that day.

Police said they are investigating the incident that caused the death of Southbury resident James P. Walsh, Jr, at JF Walsh Mulch, 4 Toddy Hill Road.

Police, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a paramedic, and the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company responded to the industrial yard at about 2:07 pm, after receiving a report about the emergency. The firm sells landscape mulch on a wholesale basis.

In the incident, a 1986 Western Star tri-axle dump truck ran over Mr Walsh, causing traumatic leg injuries.

Mr Walsh was conscious when he was sent to Danbury Hospital for treatment of his injuries, said Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead. But the injuries were fatal, and seven hours later, at about 9 pm that day, Mr Walsh died, police said in a statement.

Police did not disclose details about how the accident happened and declined to provide the name of the driver of the JF Walsh Mulch heavy dump truck involved in the incident. It is unclear if the large dump truck was loaded.

The police department’s accident reconstruction unit spent time at the industrial yard on July 24, gathering technical information for its investigation.

Police Sergeant Darlene Froehlich, who responded to the accident, said it is unclear how long such a police investigation would take, adding that it is not yet known whether any charges would be filed. Seven police responded to the incident.

Sgt Froehlich said that the state medical examiner’s office would perform an autopsy on Mr Walsh. Such procedures are conducted to determine the manner and means of death.

Kang Yi, the acting area director for the Bridgeport office of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), said July 25 that OSHA sent an inspector to the accident scene. Such investigators check on whether the firms where accidents occur are in compliance with OSHA regulations.

Mr Yi said such an OSHA investigation would be completed within six months.