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Fatal Forklift Accident Claims Life of John Scerbik in Yakima, WA on October 29, 2024

Fatal Forklift Incident Claims Life of 62-Year-Old in Yakima

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Yakima, WA

 (

Oct 29, 2024

) - 

According to local news sources, a tragic incident at the Smurfit WestRock facility in Yakima, Washington, resulted in the death of 62-year-old John Scerbik on October 29, 2024. Scerbik was operating a forklift when the vehicle rolled off an embankment, leading to it overturning and crushing him beneath it. The Yakima County Chief Deputy Coroner reported that Scerbik suffered severe chest injuries, which led to his fatality. An autopsy confirmed the accident's nature and indicated that Scerbik was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, potentially exacerbating his injuries. The investigation was initially handled by the Yakima Police Department before being referred to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries to assess safety practices at the site.
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YAKIMA, Wash. – An unfortunate accident involving a forklift led to the death of a 62-year-old man named John Scerbik on Tuesday, November 5. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. at the Smurfit WestRock facility. Scerbik was on duty transporting materials when the forklift he was operating went off an embankment, resulting in the vehicle rolling over and crushing him underneath it.

Yakima County Chief Deputy Coroner Marshall Slight reported that Scerbik was found at the scene with severe chest injuries, which were determined to be fatal. An autopsy conducted on November 6 confirmed that his death was accidental. Sadly, Scerbik was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, which may have contributed to the severity of his injuries.

The Yakima Police Department was initially involved in the investigation before transferring it to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for further inquiry into the safety regulations at the job site. The incident has raised concerns about workplace safety, particularly in handling large machinery like forklifts.

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Accident Details:
Location:
Yakima, WA
Type:
Accident
Severity:
Fatal
Collision:
Single Vehicle
Local Road:
The name of the road where the incident happened is not provided in the Accident Report.
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