Utah Sign Company Owner Dies in Work Accident

The owner of a Salt Lake City sign company has died in an accident while taking down a business sign in Bountiful.

Police say 66-year-old Richard Gillies of Gillies Signs and Design Inc. was working Friday from the bucket of a cherry picker crane at a closed Blockbuster video store when the truck-mounted crane apparently malfunctioned.

Police say an additional malfunction caused him to be crushed against the building and to fall 10 to 15 feet to the ground.

He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the company website, Gillies was involved in the sign business for over 35 years.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.