AN employee of Manpower and Maintenance Placement Services Ltd met a gruesome death after he was crushed by a truck at the Kingston Container Terminal yesterday morning.

He has been identified as 34-year-old Claude Nelson of a Greater Portmore, St Catherine address.

The Newport West Police report that about 8:45 am Nelson, who carried out janitorial services at the port, was hit by a six-wheeler truck as he reached down to pick up a piece of waste paper. The vehicle then crushed his head and upper body.

"It was a gruesome sight; not for the faint of heart," a policeman, who visited the scene, said.

The incident caused a delay in activities at the busy container terminal with a number of trailers stalled as police investigators processed the scene.

Yesterday, staff at the terminal refused to comment on the issue and all managers were said to be locked in a meeting.

One curt female security officer at the front office of the terminal was quite brash when questioned about the incident.

"I don't know nothing bout that; it better you leave and don't ask no whole heap of questions," the seemingly offended woman barked.

However, one staff member — who refused to be identified — said the incident had hit home hard.

"We are all mourning this incident. It is a real tragedy," the worker said.

In July 2009 another port worker, Trevor Fennell, was crushed to death by a heavy duty straddle carrier as he carried out his duties on the wharf.