Detectives Identify Woodbridge Man As Victim In Fatal Forklift Accident At Area Home Depot

Updated 4:45 p.m.

MERRIFIELD, VA — Fairfax County Police identified the 43-year-old man who was killed during a workplace accident just after midnight Tuesday at the Home Depot located at 2815 Merriee Drive in Fairfax.

Officers responded along with units of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for the report of a man trapped under a forklift that had fallen over onto its side. Rescue personnel found Paul Gato of Woodbridge under the forklift and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to an FCPD blog post.

After conducting a preliminary investigation, detectives determined that Gato was using the forklift to unload supplies from a delivery truck, when the forklift fell over and trapped him underneath. The delivery truck driver heard a loud crash, went to investigate and found Gato beneath the forklift. He then contacted emergency services and police.

Detectives reported that at this time there was no evidence of criminal activity related to Gato's death. They are working with officials from the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration on their investigation into the incident. An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death.

Officers are on scene of a workplace accident at Home Depot, 2815 Merrilee Dr, Fairfax. Preliminarily, a man was fatally injured by a forklift he was operating & pronounced dead on scene. Detectives are responding to investigate. Follow https://t.co/XTgRJykwD5, for updates. pic.twitter.com/zirmCfeK5U
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) November 23, 2021