Elm Mott, TX — June 6, 2024, William Thornton was killed as the result of a work accident at around 2:00 p.m. along Connally Drive.
Officials said that the accident happened north of Waco near I-35 and Elm Mott Lane/Leroy Parkway.
According to officials, 39-year-old William Thornton was operating a forklift at the time. While retrieving items from a shelf, a higher shelf collapsed, causing material to fall on top of William Thornton. Due to this, William Thornton sustained fatal injuries.
Additional details are unconfirmed, however OSHA included in their reports 12 alleged violation citations. One was “willful” while the rest were “serious.” The report also showed that penalties were recommended.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Serious allegations like these often make people believe everything is open-and-shut. A lot of the time, though, even a large number of citations and a hefty penalty may just be the tip of the iceberg.
Ultimately, OSHA’s responsibilities and getting a worker’s family a fair resolution through Texas work accident law are two very different processes. In fact, even when there are confirmed violations, there isn’t always a guarantee that families will receive benefits or even have an opportunity to confront the worker’s employer. That often requires navigating a legal maze that takes a whole lot of evidence and legal strategy to do successfully.
So as concerning as the OSHA statements on this accident are, I have to wonder if there were steps beyond the OSHA investigations to ensure the victim’s family were able to explore their options thoroughly.
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