Forklift Accident Lands One Man in Hospital, Another in Jail

A forklift accident at a Minnesota equipment testing company resulted in one worker suffering severe injuries and a second being arrested on alcohol-related charges.

The incident occurred Monday, October 20, at MTS, a company that creates equipment for mechanical testing and simulation that is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered a worker lying on the factory floor next to a forklift. The man was bleeding profusely from his leg, his femoral artery severed.

As paramedics worked to stop the bleeding by applying a tourniquet to the victim’s leg, police interviewed the driver of the forklift, Anthony Laurence Johnson, 38, of Shakopee, Minnesota. Johnson told police he was driving his vehicle down an aisle when he hit a “skid” and lost control of the forklift, causing the back end to swing around and strike the victim, according to local news reports.

Johnson admitted to police that he had consumed alcohol prior to reporting to his job. He was given a Field Sobriety Test and a Breathalyzer text, which gave a result of .116 blood alcohol content (BAC). Johnson was charged with one count of felony criminal vehicular operation/great bodily harm under the influence of alcohol. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The victim underwent emergency surgery to repair his damaged leg and is expected to survive.