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"It's horrific": Street sweeper killed in tragic freak accident in Florida

A street sweeper who apparently was trying to clear something from the machine became accidentally entangled in it and was killed on Saturday, CBS affiliate WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, reports.

WJAX said it happened in the parking lost of a fast food restaurant where witnesses reported hearing a man's cry for help but couldn't reach him in time before the accident turned fatal.

Police said the victim was in his late 40s or early 50s and hasn't been identified.

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Jay Maust WJAX-TV

WJAX spoke with a father from the area who has an 18-year-old son who works for him. He described the incident as horrific.

"I own a roofing company and to see these kinds of things happen ... it's horrific ... it's awful," Jay Maust said. "The thing is to make sure he [Maust's son] understands how easy it is even for him to get hurt ... even just sweeping a parking lot you now see how dangerous it is."

An investigation has been launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

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