2004 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

May 19, 2004

A dock worker at the Holt marine terminal on the Gloucester City waterfront was killed this morning. Edward Wheeler, 59, of Erial-New Brooklyn Road in Sicklerville, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His death has been ruled accidental.

The accident happened at approximately 10:10 a.m. today while bundles of plywood (numerous sheets strapped together) were being unloaded from a ship called the Toki, based in Nassau, the Bahamas. A crane was being used to lift plywood bundles from the ship and to place them on the dock. One of two straps holding one of the bundles apparently slipped, preliminary investigation indicates, causing the load to shift and become unstable. The plywood bundle fell approximately three stories and struck the victim, who was on the dock. He suffered multiple injuries.

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials responded to the scene and are conducting an investigation into how the accident occurred.