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4
Worker Runs Away After Tragic Forklift Accident Claims CEO’s Life: “He Was On His Phone”
A fatal forklift accident at Hyundai’s massive Georgia construction site drew renewed scrutiny after investigators revealed that the machine’s operator was allegedly on his phone when the incident happened. The operator also allegedly ran away following the fatal accident.
The incident took the life of a 45-year-old subcontractor CEO, and it led to multiple OSHA fines and conversations about safety enforcement and worker accountability.
Highlights
- A forklift driver was accused of being on his phone when he struck and took the life of a Hyundai subcontractor CEO.
- Investigators said the victim was severed at the waist, and the driver allegedly fled without checking on him.
- OSHA fined multiple contractors after citing repeated safety failures at the site.
RELATED:
A construction site walk turned fatal in seconds, but its immediate aftermath was even more shocking
Image credits: The Current/Justin Taylor
According to WTOC, the fatal incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. on March 21 at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America site in Bryan County, Georgia.
Sunbok You, the 45-year-old CEO of Hyundai subcontractor SBY America, was speaking with workers at the HL-GA Battery Company construction area when he walked across a roadway. That was when he was fatally struck by a forklift, according to WTOC News.
The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office told reporters that You’s body was found “lying behind the forklift,” with investigators observing a 10- to 15-foot trail of blood. The news outlet reported that graphic images showed You had been severed from the waist up in front of a forklift labeled “Hyundai.”
Image credits: Unsplash
At the time, HL-GA Battery Company issued a statement acknowledging the fatality.
The company also confirmed that it was cooperating with authorities.
“Recently, there was a tragic incident at the site of our manufacturing facility in Bryan County which resulted in a fatality.
Image credits: Getty Images
“We express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of the deceased.
“We are offering support services and are reinforcing safety protocols. We are fully cooperating with OSHA on the investigation,” HL-GA Battery Company noted.
OSHA findings pointed to safety violations on both the subcontractor CEO and the forklift driver
Image credits: Unsplash
An OSHA report reviewed by WTOC stated that You was wearing a black vest and an eye patch over his right eye while he was on the construction site.
Investigators noted he was not wearing the required high-visibility green safety vest mandated by HL-GA Battery Company rules.
A translated statement provided to OSHA by a safety manager said the forklift driver was also talking on the phone while operating the vehicle. The driver reportedly ran away after the fatal accident without checking on You.
Image credits: Getty Images
The report identified the driver as an employee of Beyond Iron Construction, a separate contractor working at the site.
OSHA opened investigations into four companies connected to the project.
Image credits: Unsplash
Following the investigation, Beyond Iron Construction was fined $16,550, SBY America was fined $9,268, and HL-GA Battery Company was fined just $1,800.
Steel Brothers Development was investigated by OHSA but was not fined, according to Local 12 News.
Image credits: OSHA
OSHA noted that Beyond Iron Construction was penalized because the company exposed workers to “struck-by and crushing hazards” and failed to enforce traffic safety rules.
These included the use of spotters, speed limits, and horn use when visibility was obstructed.
The Hyundai megasite has a disturbing history of accidents, some of which were fatal
Image credits: Unsplash
The OSHA report also indicated that the Hyundai megasite actually had a disturbing history of serious injuries, with the facility previously recording at least 53 incidents requiring EMS response during a 16-month period.
Over a dozen traumatic injuries were also recorded on the site, such as another forklift accident and a worker being caught in a conveyor belt.
Image credits: Unsplash
A construction worker was also seriously injured in a pipe explosion just a month before You’s accident. Another worker also passed away on the HL-GA Battery construction site after a metal frame fell on him.
Online reactions to the incident focused heavily on distraction and shared responsibility.
One commenter wrote, “This here is a good tool to use on the IMPORTANCE of keeping attention on the lift and the screens of cell phones off!”
Image credits: HMG
Others focused on the driver’s actions after the collision. “Not cutting this driver any slack. He was on his phone and took off without checking on someone. That’s a whole issue in itself,” one person said.
Some commenters also emphasized pedestrian responsibility on active construction sites. “Pedestrians though should be on alert and give forklifts the right of way. Being a CEO, I feel like he should have definitely known this.”
Netizens shared their thoughts about the incident on social media
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What do you think ?
UnclePanda 1 week ago
I can understand fleeing in panic, possibly while vomiting the entire way. The question is what did he do next? Come back or keep running?
UnclePanda 1 week ago
Dang, I spent about 15 minutes searching and found no follow up info on the driver, if he was caught, etc. Anybody know?
Load More Replies...
Oskar vanZandt 1 week ago
Most of the blame lies with the forklift operator. When you are using a vehicle to complete a task, the one operating the equipment MUST be in control of the vehicle and aware of their surroundings. Example: when you drive a car..
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
And even if Sunbok You had been in a high-visibility vest, with a pair of flashing-light deely-boppers on his head, and wearing a pair of pants with sparkling sequins on them, the forklift driver STILL wouldn't have "seen" him, because the forklift driver was on his phone.
Load More Replies...
Rick Murray 1 week ago
Guys... That German safety video was an example of what *NOT* to do, not a tutorial!
DeShotz 1 week ago
Ah yes, the darkly hilarious "Forklift Driver Klaus." I thought of that too when I saw this story.
Load More Replies...
Nikki Sevven 1 week ago
If the CEO was "severed at the waist," your boy was driving around with his forks a meter in the air. Huge safety violation. And if your boy was on his phone, he wasn't using his horn properly while driving forward. Also huge safety violation.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
He also didn't have a spotter, apparently, which was required on the job site. (Learned this detail by reading witness statements on the official 84-page OSHA report on the incident.)
Load More Replies...
Bookworm 1 week ago
This is like blaming someone walking at night in black beside a road and getting hit. Yes they should be wearing visible clothes, but the actual fault lies with the operator of the vehicle. Really wish there was a follow up on what happened to the driver. This is reckless disregard for human life at a minimum.
Kenneth Smith 1 week ago (edited)
I've (respectfully) called my boss out for not wearing one once. There is a blind corner that is high traffic and I'm actively looking for yellow through the shelves. It only takes long enough for me to turn my head to check the other direction for me to miss someone. He took it very well. I have severe ADHD. Some folks come in and fuss about having to wear vests, but they don't understand how terrifying it is to me that I might not see someone. Those chances decrease dramatically with high vis clothing. And if I've got 2000 lbs on my forks, 30 feet in the air, pushing another 2000 lbs back, it has my full attention. Forklifts look simple but they are sooooo dangerous.
Kenneth Smith 1 week ago
I'll add to that 2000 lb of fluid. That moves and shifts. I'm not gonna lie though, it's fun.
Load More Replies...
Lee Gilliland 1 week ago
It's called distracted driving and it's against the law for a reason.
Mel in Georgia 1 week ago
I'm always amazed that people think they can safely operate vehicles and machinery while looking at their phones - and it happens all of the time! I remember being in Vietnam and seeing multiple motorbike drivers on their phones while moving through crowded streets. We really aren't that good at multi-tasking, people!
Upstaged75 1 week ago
OMG that's horrifying! Poor man. And his family. I was there the day my coworker was notified at our office that her father had died in a forklift accident. Apparently it tipped over on him somehow. It was devastating to watch her get that news. 😥
CaliPanda 1 week ago (edited)
I’ve run trade show exhibits for years. During set up and tear down, forklifts rule. They do watch out for us booth workers (it’s impossible to stay within the confines of your booth space at these times), and I always made sure to stay out of their way. Never saw a person hurt, tough I did see many casualties of very expensive equipment.
moggiemoo 1 week ago
How oblivious do you need to be not to notice something the size of a forklift coming at you?
Did I say that out loud? 1 week ago
Tell me you've never been in that environment, without.... well, you know the rest.
Load More Replies... UnclePanda 1 week ago
I can understand fleeing in panic, possibly while vomiting the entire way. The question is what did he do next? Come back or keep running?
UnclePanda 1 week ago
Dang, I spent about 15 minutes searching and found no follow up info on the driver, if he was caught, etc. Anybody know?
Load More Replies... Oskar vanZandt 1 week ago
Most of the blame lies with the forklift operator. When you are using a vehicle to complete a task, the one operating the equipment MUST be in control of the vehicle and aware of their surroundings. Example: when you drive a car..
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
And even if Sunbok You had been in a high-visibility vest, with a pair of flashing-light deely-boppers on his head, and wearing a pair of pants with sparkling sequins on them, the forklift driver STILL wouldn't have "seen" him, because the forklift driver was on his phone.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 week ago
Guys... That German safety video was an example of what *NOT* to do, not a tutorial!
DeShotz 1 week ago
Ah yes, the darkly hilarious "Forklift Driver Klaus." I thought of that too when I saw this story.
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 1 week ago
If the CEO was "severed at the waist," your boy was driving around with his forks a meter in the air. Huge safety violation. And if your boy was on his phone, he wasn't using his horn properly while driving forward. Also huge safety violation.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
He also didn't have a spotter, apparently, which was required on the job site. (Learned this detail by reading witness statements on the official 84-page OSHA report on the incident.)
Load More Replies... Bookworm 1 week ago
This is like blaming someone walking at night in black beside a road and getting hit. Yes they should be wearing visible clothes, but the actual fault lies with the operator of the vehicle. Really wish there was a follow up on what happened to the driver. This is reckless disregard for human life at a minimum.
Kenneth Smith 1 week ago (edited)
I've (respectfully) called my boss out for not wearing one once. There is a blind corner that is high traffic and I'm actively looking for yellow through the shelves. It only takes long enough for me to turn my head to check the other direction for me to miss someone. He took it very well. I have severe ADHD. Some folks come in and fuss about having to wear vests, but they don't understand how terrifying it is to me that I might not see someone. Those chances decrease dramatically with high vis clothing. And if I've got 2000 lbs on my forks, 30 feet in the air, pushing another 2000 lbs back, it has my full attention. Forklifts look simple but they are sooooo dangerous.
Kenneth Smith 1 week ago
I'll add to that 2000 lb of fluid. That moves and shifts. I'm not gonna lie though, it's fun.
Load More Replies... Lee Gilliland 1 week ago
It's called distracted driving and it's against the law for a reason.
Mel in Georgia 1 week ago
I'm always amazed that people think they can safely operate vehicles and machinery while looking at their phones - and it happens all of the time! I remember being in Vietnam and seeing multiple motorbike drivers on their phones while moving through crowded streets. We really aren't that good at multi-tasking, people!
Upstaged75 1 week ago
OMG that's horrifying! Poor man. And his family. I was there the day my coworker was notified at our office that her father had died in a forklift accident. Apparently it tipped over on him somehow. It was devastating to watch her get that news. 😥
CaliPanda 1 week ago (edited)
I’ve run trade show exhibits for years. During set up and tear down, forklifts rule. They do watch out for us booth workers (it’s impossible to stay within the confines of your booth space at these times), and I always made sure to stay out of their way. Never saw a person hurt, tough I did see many casualties of very expensive equipment.
moggiemoo 1 week ago
How oblivious do you need to be not to notice something the size of a forklift coming at you?
Did I say that out loud? 1 week ago
Tell me you've never been in that environment, without.... well, you know the rest.
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