PINELLAS PARK ― A 59-year-old man died in a workplace accident on Tuesday, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were called to Junker Joe Hauling at 12110 65th Lane N at about 11:37 a.m.
They learned that Joseph Freeman Jr. was helping employees repair one of his 8x12 dump trailers. The bucket was lifted in the air and Freeman was working on it when a safety bar came loose and the bucket fell on him, deputies said, pinning him between it and the trailer.
Freeman was pronounced dead at about 10:58 a.m. by Pinellas Park paramedics.
His death appears to be an accident, deputies said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified of the incident.