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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Worker crushed to death outside diner

An investigator looks at the scene where a man operating a hydraulic lift was crushed to death behind Frank's Diner on Tuesday morning. The man was collecting waste grease from the diner and became caught in the machine about 7:30 a.m. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)
From staff reports
An investigator looks at the scene where a man operating a hydraulic lift was crushed to death behind Frank's Diner on Tuesday morning. The man was collecting waste grease from the diner and became caught in the machine about 7:30 a.m. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)

A man moving barrels of grease from a restaurant was crushed to death in a hydraulic lift Tuesday morning.

Two employees of Frank’s Diner, 1516 W. Second Ave., walked out the back door of the restaurant on a break about 7:30 a.m. and made a grisly discovery, said Spokane Police Sgt. Gary Warren.

The victim had been collecting barrels of waste grease from the restaurant for Baker Commodities Inc. when he became stuck in a hydraulic lift used to load the barrels into a truck.

He was crushed and died instantly. The restaurant employees found him about five minutes later.

The state Department of Labor and Industries is investigating the case. The man’s name and age were not released Tuesday.