Two Georgia Paving Workers Killed when Truck Strikes Bobcat during Driveway Paving Project

The deaths of two Georgia paving workers last year in June prompts a discussion about the dangers of operating vehicles on work sites, especially when steep grades are involved, and what Georgia families can do when a loved one is horrifically killed on the job. According to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, on June 14, 2022, Cody Hauser and John Lane were tragically killed during a runaway-truck accident at a paving project worksite in Rome, Georgia. Both Hauser and Lane are reported to have only been 19-years-old when they were killed as a result of the fatal workplace accident. The cause of the two young workers’ deaths is listed as a “struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle” accident, resulting in “other traumatic injuries and disorders.”

Reports indicate that the accident unfolded when four employees were working on a paving project on a private home that was set up on a mountain hill. On the morning of June 14, 2022, “four employees were performing pavement work on a private residential driveway set on a mountain. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were in the cab of a dump truck waiting as a coworker was leading broken asphalt into the truck using an excavator. Meanwhile, downhill, Employee #3 was operating a Bobcat skid steer up the driveway with Employee #4 riding in the bucket. The dump truck, which was facing downhill, began moving forward inadvertently. The driver, Employee #1, could not stop the vehicle and it sped down the hill. The truck struck the employees in the Bobcat skid steer and both vehicles were forced off the road and down a cliff into the adjacent woods.” Ultimately, the two employees who were in the cab of the dump truck sustained multiple fracture injuries and were taken to the hospital. Hauser and Lane, who were in the bucket of or operating the bobcat, were killed in the accident.

Worker Safety at Risk when Vehicles and Heavy Equipment are Involved

There is no doubt that workers are at risk of dangerous and fatal accidents when heavy machines and vehicles, such as trucks, forklifts, and Bobcats, are involved in the work performed on a worksite. Workers who work with these machines must be especially careful when operating them or working near them, and employers must adhere to the highest safety rules and regulations.

Justice for Families of Workers Killed on the Job in Decatur

No matter how careful workers may be on the job, fatal workplace accidents still can and do occur. While nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, it is important for the families of Decatur workers who were killed on the job to know that they may be entitled to important Georgia workers’ compensation benefits to help them financially. If your loved one was killed at work and you are seeking justice due, it is important to speak with an experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible about your rights and options.

The experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your Decatur workers’ compensation case and to see if they can help you. Contact the O’Connell Law Firm today and speak to an experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyer about your case today.