Coroner: Belvidere man killed in apparent forklift accident

 

 

UPDATED:  2*18*2016

BELVIDERE (WREX) -

The Winnebago County Coroner's Office says Chris Thick, 36, of Belvidere, was killed in an apparent forklift accident Wednesday.

Officials say Thick had driven a forklift onto a flat-bed truck, parked the forklift, then got out and jumped to the ground. The forklift then began to slide backward, officials allege.

When the forklift reached the end of the truck, it fell, hitting Thick. Thick was taken to the hospital where he died at about 11:50 a.m.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Hintz says an autopsy was completed on Thick, and showed Thick died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Belvidere Police are investigating Thick's death.

Above is from:  http://www.wrex.com/story/31247457/2016/02/17/coroner-belvidere-man-killed-in-apparent-forklift-accident

Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:25 PM
Updated at 9:16 PM

BELVIDERE — A 36-year-old Belvidere man died Tuesday in an industrial accident at Fastenal, 2337 Newburg Road.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday, Chris Thick drove a forklift onto a flatbed truck, parked it, and jumped to the ground, Winnebago County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Hintz said. The forklift then began to slide backwards and off the truck striking Thick. He was transported by ambulance to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford where he was pronounced dead at 11:49 a.m.

An autopsy showed the preliminary cause of death to be blunt trauma to the head, Hintz said.

Fastenal is a screw, bolt and fastener manufacturer and distributor.

Officials at the company's corporate office in Minnesota could not be reached for comment.

The accident is under investigation of the Belvidere Police Department.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160217/belvidere-man-killed-in-forklift-accident-at-fastenal

Friends and Family Remember Forklift Accident Victim

By: Amanda DeVoe - Email

BELVIDERE (WIFR) -- The friends and family of a man who died in a forklift accident, remember him a day after the tragedy, as loving husband and father.

Chris Thick and his family survived the E4 tornado that rocked the town of Fairdale last year, Now they're mourning his tragic death, from an accident they say, is shocking.

The accident happened at Fastenal in Belvidere. Police say the 36-year-old husband and father of three, parked his forklift on a flatbed truck, but after jumping off, it began sliding backwards, hitting him. He later died from his injuries. Thick worked at Fitzgerald Equipment in Rockford. Friends say, Thick was energetic and friendly, and the love he had for his family was enormous.

"He was a really cool guy. You would meet him for the first time, and you'd think that you'd known him for a while because he just had that warm embrace just where it wasn't like you would just make small talk with him. When you met him it was something interesting every time," said Thick's friend Ian Galpin. Galpin also works at Vici Fitness in Belvidere, where Thick's wife Jackie is a member.

Vici Fitness is planning a memorial workout February 27th at 10 a.m.

People can also donate to the family at any Alpine Bank location. A GoFundMe page has also been set up. Funeral services are this Sunday at noon at Anderson Funeral Home in Belvidere.

For more information on the Memorial Workout and how to donate, visit the attached related link.

Above is from:  http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/Friends-and-Family-Remember-Forklift-Accident-Vicitm--369370131.html