Forklift operator escapes injury after truck rolls free from loading dock

It took three tow trucks to removed the tractor trailer after it crashed into a tree. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A forklift operator escaped injury Friday when a tractor trailer at Laar's Heating rolled free from its loading dock and crashed into nearby woods off Industrial Way.

Rochester Police responded around 5:40 p.m. for a report of a tractor trailer unit in the wooded area on the side of Laars Heating.

During the investigation, it was learned tractor trailer operator Sheldon Francis parked at the loading dock before going inside the building.

It was also learned that when a Laars employee was using a forklift to load a crate on the truck, he noticed that the truck began moving forward and jumped off the forklift and out of the truck. He was not injured.

He then saw that the tractor trailer had rolled down the driveway portion and into the wooded area.

The tractor trailer unit sustained substantial damage to the front end due to striking the tree, while the forklift that was in the trailer punctured a container of motor oil. Rochester Fire responded to tend to the spill.

The tractor trailer was towed using three Rochester Truck Repair trucks, police said.

A New Hampshire State Police Trooper from Troop G trooper assisted in the investigation, which tentatively concluded that the parking brake was not engaged.