Pinellas Park Man Dies After Being Crushed By Dump Truck Bucket

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- A 59-year-old man died Tuesday after being crushed by a dump truck bucket.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Junker Joe Hauling at 12110 65th Lane N. in unincorporated Pinellas Park at 11:37 a.m. when an 8- by 12-foot dumping trailer's hydraulics pin came undone.

Joseph Freeman Jr. of 107th Ave. N., Pinellas Park, and another employee were lifting the bucket on the trailer into the dumping position in an attempt to push the safety pin back into position. While attempting the repair, they installed the trailer's safety bar and removed the pin from the hydraulic safety. Witnesses said Freeman was manipulating the height of the bucket when the safety bar came undone and the bucket fell on him, crushing him between the bucket and the frame of the trailer.

He died at the scene.