‘We are devastated.’ 1 dead in forklift accident at Charlotte distribution center
A worker died in an industrial accident at BIC Corp.’s Charlotte distribution center Thursday morning, company officials confirmed.
Medic pronounced the person dead on site, according to a Medic tweet just before 9 a.m.
The incident involved a forklift, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department statement.
Police released no further details about what happened. They said they were investigating the death “as a public accident, in coordination with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.”
Medic referred questions about how the person died to the CMPD.
In a statement, BIC Corp. officials said “we were devastated” to learn of the employee’s death and called it “a tragic accident.”
“Our thoughts are with the individual’s family and friends,” according to the statement released by BIC Group spokesman Robert Miller.
“We are fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation and not sharing any other details about the situation at this time,” according to the statement. “Team members at the facility are aware of the incident and we are providing support for them during this very difficult time.”
First fatality at site
The fatality was the first at BIC’s Charlotte distribution center, Miller said. BIC opened the center in 2005 and the building where Thursday’s accident happened opened in 2012, according to Miller.
He said 71 BIC team members and about 40 temporary associates work at the center, which is in the 5900 block of Long Creek Park Drive, off Statesville Road in north Charlotte.
BIC Corp. is known for its razors, sailboards, Wite-Out, stationery and other products, according to the company’s website.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 11:20 AM.