The following is a press release issued by the Windsor Police Department:
On April 3rd, at approximately 1:00pm, a wine storage facility located at 1010 Shiloh Rd, had a traumatic industrial accident resulting in the death of a 40-year-old male employee. The employee, who will not be identified at this time, was working in the wine storage area as a forklift equipment operator.
It is unknown what exactly occurred as the incident was unwitnessed however, it appears the employee braced his equipment against pallets filled with wine bottles. Each pallet was estimated to weigh 2100 to 3000lbs. The employee dismounted his equipment and subsequently a pallet collapsed on top of the employee. Sonoma County Fire and Windsor Police responded and found the employee deceased.
Windsor Police Department subsequently turned over the investigation to Cal OSHA and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Unit. This is considered a workplace industrial accident, which Cal OSHA will be the lead investigative agency.
The Windsor Police Department would like to express our deepest condolences to the victim, his family, and co-workers at Constellation Wines.
Any further questions can be directed to Cal OSHA.
I’m so sorry. Sending our deepest sympathy to the family.