AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a truck driver from South Yorkshire died while delivering Christmas food supplies.
The 65-year-old, who has not been named, is thought to have been crushed by a metal delivery cage as he made a drop-off in West Yorkshire.
Police and paramedics were called to a supermarket in Hebden Bridge following reports a man had been trapped by the trolley, understood to be full of produce.
The man, from Doncaster, was making a delivering to the Oasis Nisa Local store in Crown Street when the incident happened at around 9am on Saturday.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police sealed off the scene and confirmed an investigation into the tragedy is underway.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive also confirmed it had been notified of the incident and was working alongside police to determine the cause.
Calderdale Council, which covers the area where the man’s death took place, is also cooperating with the inquiry.
A spokesman said: “The council’s environmental health service is responsible for investigating incidents of this kind which take place in shops and offices in the council’s jurisdiction.
“Officers from the council attended the scene and are working with everyone concerned to undertake a thorough investigation into what happened.”
The rear doors of the white, articulated DAF truck remained open after the incident, while a line of metal trolley cages was visible on the pavement outside an adjoining shop. No-one at the shop itself was available for comment.
A spokesman for DHL, the delivery firm which employed the driver, said: “DHL can confirm one of its employees was involved in a fatal incident on the morning of Saturday, December 22, in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and are cooperating fully with the police, and Health and Safety Executive in their investigation.
“However, while this is underway, we are unable to comment further, other than to confirm that health and safety remains of the utmost importance to the company.”
The West Yorkshire Western District Coroner, Peter Straker, has been notified of the death and an inquest is expected to be opened shortly.