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BOUNTIFUL — The founder of a Salt Lake sign company was killed Friday in an industrial accident.
Richard Gillies, 66, was in the cage area of a cherry picker while taking down a sign at a closed Blockbuster video store, 545 S. 200 West in Bountiful, when he fell 10 to 15 feet to the ground.
Gillies, who was not alert nor breathing when paramedics arrived, was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
While Gillies was in the cherry picker, the person operating the machine below — his adult son — apparently spotted a problem and tried to reposition the cherry picker, according to an initial investigation. That's when Gillies fell.
Gillies was part of Gillies Signs & Design Inc. According to a note written by Richard Gillies on the website, "I have been involved in the sign business for over 35 years. I started Gillies Signs & Design in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1985."
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was investigating the accident.
