Wapato farmworker killed in forklift accident

State officials say a 23-year-old farmworker has been killed in a forklift accident

State Department of Labor & Industries spokeswoman Elaine Fischer says the man suffered fatal injuries Saturday while operating a forklift at Consolidated Fruit.

She described the accident as a rollover, but said the exact circumstances remain under investigation.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports ( http://bit.ly/PSFY8u) Yakima County Coroner Jack Hawkins identified the man as Francisco Javier Mendez of Toppenish.

According to the sheriff's log from Saturday, co-workers of the man reported he was pinned under a forklift. An arriving from Yakima County Fire District 5 then confirmed the fatality.

The Associated Press