Storm Lake, IA — A man was hospitalized after being seriously injured in a forklift accident in Storm Lake, Iowa, on Friday, March 24, 2015. The accident took place at Meridian Manufacturing, in the 2900 block of Expansion Blvd.
According to local reports, Douglas Knoke was walking through the parking lot when he was hit and run over by a forklift being driven by 34-year old Tyrone Jordan.
Police interviewed Jordan and were told that Knoke was walking in the forklift’s blind spot, and that Jordan wasn’t able to see him. Knoke was taken to Mercy Medical Center. There’s been no update on his current condition.
Police are still investigating the accident, but say that no charges have been filed.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary
Reports of this accident say that the victim was walking in the forklift’s blind spot. But it’s not as if it was only just discovered that forklifts had these. They make mirrors to assist drivers. Did this forklift not have one? Obviously, I didn’t witness this accident happen, so I don’t know all the facts, but whenever I see an accident like this, I have to wonder if the forklift operator had the proper training needed to operate the machine. Unfortunately, several people who lack the necessary training are often asked to use them. Several people who are trained to use them aren’t trained well enough. It’s a sad fact that many bartenders receive more federally-mandated training than forklift operators do. To me, that’s criminal, and leads to many unnecessary accidents.
— Grossman Law Offices
