Walmart Worker Dies in Distribution Facility Accident

An employee has died in an accident involving a warehouse vehicle at the Walmart distribution facility in Raymond, New Hampshire.

Raymond Police Chief Michael Labell has identified the victim as James Tomilson, 54, of Deerfield.

The police force said Tomilson was walking when he was hit by a tractor-trailer at the distribution center shortly before 10 a.m. on September 16.

Police said another truck behind him "lunged forward" while Tomilson was inspecting a trailer, pinning him between the two vehicles.

First responders from Raymond Ambulance and the Raymond Fire Department attempted CPR, but he died soon afterwards.

No criminal activity or foul play is suspected by police and the incident is considered a tragic accident.

Although the unnamed driver of that tractor-trailer will not face any criminal charges, police have confirmed to Newsweek "the case remains active and under investigation."

According to police, Tomilson was an employee at Walmart and a former Deerfield and Raymond police officer, serving from 1999 to 2012. Tomilson had been working as an employee for Walmart since 2012.

Labell told Newsweek: "I can tell you that James was one of the most thoughtful, honest, and caring individuals a person could know.

"He lived a life of serving others through his acts of volunteerism and responsibilities as a former law enforcement officer and soldier in the Army National Guard.

"He will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

A statement given to Newsweek by Walmart reads: "We are heartbroken over the loss of our associate, James.

"We're focused on supporting his family and our associates during this difficult time and are assisting authorities in their investigation however we can."

While Walmart stores employ almost 1.6 million people across the U.S., its supply chains and distribution centers are comparatively formidable.

A report updated in September 2021 states the retail store and distribution network "is massive, at 783 million and 143 million square feet respectively, for a total of 926 million feet."

It adds: "To put this into perspective, the entire city of Manhattan is 661 million square feet.

"If Walmart's distribution centers were air-lifted into Manhattan, then they would cover more than 21 percent of the city's surface area!"

Walmart became the latest victim of fake news at the beginning of the week, when a bogus press release claimed the retailer would begin accepting the Litecoin cryptocurrency, leading to short-lived but significant stock gains for the company.

Walmart distribution center accident
Stock photo shows police cars attending an emergency. An employee has died in an accident involving a warehouse vehicle at the Walmart distribution facility in Raymond, New Hampshire carlballou/Getty Images

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