Dunedin Man Killed In Pinellas Park Construction Accident

PINELLAS PARK, FL - A man died Thursday morning in a construction accident in a building being renovated at 6651 102nd Ave., police said. The man was identified as Richard Louis Collett, 27, of Dunedin. Collett was operating a 14- foot Scissor Lift as part of the building renovation project when the accident occurred about 10:10 a.m., according to police.

Police said Collett was standing on top of the Scissor Lift using a joystick-type controller to move the motorized Scissor Lift out of the building. In attempting to exit a double-door entrance way, Collett trapped his head between the top of the lift rail and the entrance door frame, causing severe trauma. Collett was found by a co-worker, injured and unresponsive. Paramedics responded and Collett was pronounced dead at the scene.

Collett was an electrician apprentice and an employee of Sunrise Electric of Pinellas. The company was performing subcontractor work for Down Under Construction Services, which was performing the renovation on the abandoned building.

OSHA investigators were notified and responded to conduct their own investigation. The death of Collett appears to be an accident and an autopsy will be performed by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office, police said.

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