Fatal tractor accident kills Salinas man in San Ardo

A Salinas man working on a farm has been killing in a freak forklift accident just off Cattlemen Road in San Ardo. The accident happened around 1 p.m. Monday.

The California Highway Patrol reports that 34 year old Jose Hernandez of Salinas has died after being ejected from a forklift.

CHP and CalFire were on scene this afternoon investigating the accident.

Reportedly, Hernandez was driving a forklift on a private dirt road when he turned the steering wheel to the left without explanation. The forklift careened down a steep embankment and Hernandez was ejected. The forklift rolled over Hernandez, killing him as it continued down the embankment.

An inspector with the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Fremont office is also investigating this accident.