Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303993281 - Ray'S Nursery, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Jacksonville Area Office

Investigation Summary

On May 18, 2003, Employee #1, the Crew Supervisor, was in the process of activating the irrigation system. The employee had just finished a conversation with one of the crew members, and was traveling to another crew member to deliver a grease gun which was to be used to help start an irrigation pump. Employee #1 was driving a pickup truck which was owned by the company. The employee who had been talking to Employee #1 watched him drive on a dirt road that was adjacent to a canal. The truck was driven about 400 ft when it began to drift toward the canal. The truck traveled about 120 ft further, and then entered the canal which was about 6 to 10 ft deep. The employee attempted to extract Employee #1 from the cab, but eventually got assistance from others who also could not retreive Employee #1. When emergency services arrived, they were able to extract Employee #1 and the truck from the canal. Employee #1 died at the scene. There were no barriers or other devices along the canal or between the canal and the road to prevent a vehicle from entering the canal.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, CANAL, TRUCK, DROWN, WATER