Published Saturday, October 3, 2026. This post summarizes public news reports and is general information, not legal advice.
Freetown Worker Dies After Front Loader Incident on Ridge Hill Road
A 52-year-old Fall River man who worked at Excel Recycling died after a front loader struck him at the company’s yard in Freetown on Thursday, according to the Bristol County District Attorney as reported by fallriverreporter.com. The yard is at 17 Ridge Hill Road, fallriverreporter.com reported. The outlet also reported that the District Attorney’s Office released these details about the worker.
Freetown Police and EMS were dispatched at approximately noon after 911 calls reported that someone had been struck by a front loader, according to fallriverreporter.com. Officers found the worker on the ground near the front loader with significant injuries and located the front loader involved. Fallriverreporter.com reported that he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time after arrival.
A State Police unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the death along with Freetown Police, and the investigation is active and ongoing, according to fallriverreporter.com. Fallriverreporter.com also reported that people who knew him described him as a father and a newlywed. The outlet reported that he began acting in 2019 after landing a role in a movie filmed in Fall River.
Insurance Questions After a Fatal Workplace Equipment Incident
When a worker dies after being struck by equipment on the job, questions can arise about which insurance applies and who can bring a claim. Those questions often turn on whether the person was working and what kind of coverage is involved.
At Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C., Boston personal injury attorney Dino M. Colucci represents people injured in workplace and equipment incidents and the families of people who have died. Our team investigates how an incident happened, which coverage can apply and who can be responsible. Our team represents injured clients in Suffolk, Norfolk and Middlesex counties and throughout Massachusetts.
Massachusetts workers’ compensation law may apply when an employee dies from a work-related injury. Under M.G.L. c. 152, § 31, workers’ compensation may provide death benefits to qualifying dependents. These benefits can include weekly payments to eligible surviving family members. M.G.L. c. 152, § 15 also preserves the right to pursue damages against a legally responsible third party in certain circumstances.
Why Video and Witness Accounts Can Be Lost
Evidence about how a workplace incident happened can change or become unavailable over time. Video is often one of the most relevant sources, because it can show where people and equipment were positioned in the moments before an incident.
Business security systems, municipal cameras and doorbell cameras each keep footage on their own schedules. Many systems can overwrite or discard recordings automatically, so footage that is not requested can stop being available. The memories of coworkers and others nearby can also fade, and the condition of equipment can be changed by repairs or continued use.
A police investigation examines what happened and whether a law may have been broken. Police can seek criminal charges, prosecutors decide whether to pursue them, and a court decides guilt. A civil claim for compensation is a separate matter that asks who can be responsible for the harm, and it does not depend on whether anyone is charged or convicted.
What Families Can Do Now
- Keep a record of insurer contacts: Write down the date, the caller and what was discussed for every call and letter from an insurer. Keep copies of all correspondence in one place.
- Request the police report: Ask for the police report of the incident once it is available. It can serve as a record of what responders found when they arrived.
- Ask that video and equipment data be preserved: Send a written request that any video and any data from the equipment involved be kept. A request made early can help keep that material available.
- Understand how workplace death claims may work: When an employee dies from a work-related injury, workers’ compensation generally governs claims involving the employer. Depending on the circumstances, the executor or administrator of the deceased person’s estate may also be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against a responsible third party.
- Talk with a lawyer before signing anything: A recorded statement, an authorization or a release given to an insurer early can affect a claim. It is generally worth understanding what a document does before signing it.
Sources
- fallriverreporter.com: Fall River man identified as person killed while on the job in Freetown
- fallriverreporter.com: Fall River man killed in workplace incident was a rising actor and more
Talking With a Lawyer After a Fatal Workplace Incident in Freetown
An early conversation can help a family understand the police investigation, insurance and a possible wrongful death claim, without any obligation. Call Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. at (617) 958-3807 to discuss your case. Our office at 31 Milk St, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 serves injured clients throughout Boston and across Massachusetts.
