POLK COUNTY, FL. – A 40-year-old Winter Haven man was killed while using a port-a-potty at a Polk County landfill, according to media reports.
According to investigators, Aaron Henderson, a contract traffic controller working at the Polk County North Central Landfill, took a restroom break around 5:10 p.m. on Friday.
Around that time, a bulldozer driver ran over and crushed the facility that Henderson was using.
Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that the bulldozer operator, who was not immediately identified, was driving the rig up an embankment to park it for the night.
The bulldozer’s blade was elevated 3 feet to 4 feet off the ground.
Because of that, the driver, who also was a contract worker employed by the same agency as Henderson, reportedly did not see the port-a-potty when he was back on level ground.
He did not know the facility was there until his machine hit something, causing a horrific noise.
At that moment, he realized what had happened. He jumped down from the dozer to see if anyone was inside. He then noticed that Henderson was unresponsive. A foreman at the scene called 911.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.
In a statement, County Manager Bill Beasley said the incident was the first of its kind.
Polk County Commission Chairwoman Martha Santiago noted in a statement, “Last night’s incident was a tragic accident. Our Board asks that you keep the family and friends of the deceased in your thoughts and prayers.”
Henderson left behind “several” children. He had turned 40 just last month.
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