A FATHER-OF-TWO was crushed to death after a 98-stone load of cardboard fell on him in an industrial

accident.

Mark Miller, 39, of Roe Lee, Blackburn, died instantly when the 5ft by 3ft compressed bale landed on him at Clarendon Haulage Co. Ltd, Myerscough Road, Mellor.

Police said the cardboard fell from a JCB being

driven by Mr Miller's friend - company managing director Stephen Holt.

Police today described the incident as a "tragic accident", while the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation.

Officers said Mr Miller, who was one of 20 drivers at the company, was about to set off on a job to Scotland when he saw Mr Holt in another part of the yard just after midday on Wednesday.

Mr Miller is believed to have gone over to speak to Mr Holt, who was loading 40 bales of compressed cardboard onto a trailer with another worker.

Police said that as Mr Holt started to reverse the JCB carrying the trailer, some of the bales fell off.

At least one landed on Mr Miller, who was standing by the side of the trailer.

Mr Holt and the other worker called an ambulance, but Mr Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said it was believed the weight of the cardboard - each bale weighs 98 stone (625 kg) would have killed Mr Miller instantly.

Detective Inspector Pete Broome said: "This has been a tragic accident resulting in the death of a young man who fully expected to be going about his normally business.

"We are conducting an investigating on behalf of the coroner to report the facts back to him."

A spokesman for the HSE confirmed they would be conducting an investigation into the matter and said their findings would not be revealed until at least when an inquest took place.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Holt said the company would be co-operating with the HSE investigation into the accident, but declined to comment further.

Mr Miller's family were too upset to comment.