A LORRY driver has died after being crushed by tonnes of soybean meal yesterday.

The driver, in his 60s, was working for Reid Atkinson haulage company, in Kelbrook, at a warehouse in Liverpool, when about eight tonnes of soya grain collapsed on top of him.

Soybean meal is used in pre-packaged meals as well in animal feeds.

The man was picking up a soybean meal delivery from Cargills Ltd in Liverpool’s Bootle docklands when the incident happened.

One witness said: “The container was being loaded up, but it was overweight on the weighbridge so he took it back to the building. He went around the back of the truck and the pile that had been filling the container collapsed on him like an avalanche, crushing him.”

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said they received the emergency call at 11.11am.

She said: “The feed fell on top of the man. He has suffered extensive asphyxiation in the grain silo and gone into cardiac arrest.

“He was resuscitated and the paramedic who was first on scene travelled with him to Aintree Hospital. But he died later from his injuries.”

The soybean was being held in a silo – a large suspended container widely used in agriculture to store grain. The incident is being dealt with by the Port of Liverpool Police.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed of the incident. A spokesman said: “An investigation is underway and is being dealt with by the HSE.”

Reid Atkinson haulage company were unavailable for comment.

A spokesman for Peel Ports Liverpool, which operates the docklands area of the city, said: “An HGV driver was hurt on one of our tenants’ premises. He was alive when he left the premises and was taken to hospital. We understand he has sadly since died.

“The incident is being investigated by the ports police and the HSE who are on site. It’s a terribly sad incident.”