Posted on 12/23/2025 3:34:22 PM PST by lowbridge
A forklift driver was allegedly talking on the phone when he struck and killed a 45-year-old man.
According to WTOC, new information has emerged about a fatal forklift incident that occurred in April at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America site.
The report states that 45-year-old Sunbok You, the CEO of Hyundai subcontractor SBY America, was struck and killed at the HL-GA Battery Company construction site. While speaking with workers at around 4:45 p.m. on March 21, You walked across a road before being struck by a forklift.
The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office told WTOC reporters at the time that You’s body was “lying behind the forklift,” with a 10- to 15-foot-long trail of blood. The outlet obtained graphic images of the incident and reported that You was severed from the waist up in front of a forklift labeled “Hyundai.”
HL-GA Battery Company issued the following statement to the outlet around the time of the incident:
“Recently, there was a tragic incident at the site of our manufacturing facility in Bryan County which resulted in a fatality. We express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of the deceased. We are offering support services and are reinforcing safety protocols. We are fully cooperating with OSHA on the investigation.”
An OSHA report reviewed by WTOC reportedly states that You was wearing a black vest and an eye patch over his right eye while on the construction site and was not wearing a high-visibility green vest, as required by HL-GA Battery Company rules.
A translated statement given to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by a safety manager stated that the forklift driver was talking on the phone while operating the vehicle and “ran away” without checking on You after the collision.
(Excerpt) Read more at local12.com ...
The company softball team is going to suffer — this guy was key to their whole infield. Specifically, You was on First.
Why did you alter the quote to portray a false scenario?
Guessing things have changed, or maybe different type of forklift, but forks were always to be ~6” off the ground when traveling. Forks higher up would cause center of gravity to be too high when making turns.
I’m assuming the forks may have not been involved in the severing, but the bulk of the machine running over him did the job. Terrible tragedy that looks like both parties were equally the cause of. Phone and driving, no safety vest, and the pedestrians are still responsible for looking out for machinery. When I visit plants you are drilled into your head that pedestrians do not have the right of way and you are responsible for making sure traffic is clear.
I took forklift training last year and that video would have been a great part of the class.
Since my training day, I haven’t been on one since.
Nice to see Klaus still driving his forklift, headless. Funniest video in a long time.
Yep, forks at 6 inches and tilted down when traveling without load, driver is responsible for keeping the forks away from potential collisions, pedestrians are responsible for their safety as well.
Talking on a phone while driving is probably against their rules too
Link goes to “page not found.”
Thanks.
L
Back in the days when I was a happy little cog in the corporate machine I got more call ins and filled out more paperwork because of fork lifts then anything else.
Where’s the punchline?
What’s wrong with you? A man died.
"This guy might lose his job."
At the end of the day it all boiled down to the same root cause; employers don't want to pay for talent so you get an idiot instead.
This is from the local news in Savannah.
The guy on the forklift was the one talking on the phone, not the victim.
CEO lives are now cheap as f--- in Amerika.
Typical OSHA Penalties (Administrative)
Serious Violations: OSHA can issue significant administrative fines, often in the tens of thousands of dollars, with median penalties for worker deaths around $12,000-$15,000, but sometimes much higher
https://www.google.com/search?q=osha+fines+in+death+caes&oq=osha+fines+in+death+caes
HOW FAST DOES A FORKLIFT HAVE TO BE TRAVELING TO CUT A MAN IN HALF????
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