Forklift tips over, kills Menards employee in Burnsville

An employee suffered fatal injuries when the forklift he was operating at a Menards store tipped over, authorities said Tuesday.

Alec M. Saunders, 27, of Burnsville, was injured Friday morning and died later that day at Hennepin County Medical Center, the medical examiner's office said.

James Honerman, a spokesman for the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA), said the forklift rolled over in the yard area of the big box home-improvement store.

Joining the examiner's office in the investigation of Saunders' death are Burnsville police and local OSHA officials. On average the past five years, OSHA has investigated eight workplace fatalities annually in Minnesota involving contact with equipment or other objects, according to agency records.

A statement issued by the Menards headquarters in Eau Claire, Wis., said, "We're experiencing a great sense of loss due to the unfortunate passing of our fellow teammate, Alec Saunders. We're devastated and trying to deal with this situation the best we can because Alec was a well-respected member of our family."

The store is on Hwy. 13 about 1¼ miles west of Interstate 35W.

The company declined to address the circumstances surrounding Saunders' death, citing OSHA's investigation.

Saunders' online obituary, which listed parents and two brothers among his survivors, read that "his smile and big heart will be greatly missed."