Sappi worker dies on job

SKOWHEGAN – An employee of Sappi Fine Paper’s Somerset Mill died Wednesday after being pinned between two forklift-type machines, authorities said.

Gary Kinney, 53, of Norridgewock, died of internal injuries early Wednesday afternoon at Redington-Fairview General Hospital, said Deputy Police Chief Rick Bonneau.

The accident happened around 9:30 a.m. as Kinney worked in a loading-dock area. Kinney had climbed down from a machine called a clamp truck, which is used to move rolls of paper, to change a propane cylinder.

At the same time, another clamp truck driver swung around to change direction, apparently unaware Kinney was nearby. Kinney was sandwiched between the backs of the two machines, Bonneau said.

He collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Skowhegan police were notified of his death around 2 p.m.

“It would appear that it was accidental,” Bonneau said.

Sappi spokeswoman Melanie Otero confirmed that a fatal accident had occurred but said she had few other details.

“The investigation is ongoing, at this point,” she said late Wednesday afternoon, adding that the company was cooperating with the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration.