NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Macon, GA, July 7, 2026 — A 52-year-old man who lived and worked at the Ramada Inn in Macon was killed Monday afternoon after a load of heavy metal gates shifted and fell on him while he was unloading a tractor-trailer, authorities said.
The victim, identified by the Bibb County Coroner’s Office as Sanjay Patel, was unloading the trailer at 4755 Chambers Road, the site of the Ramada Inn, when the accident occurred.
13WMAZ, citing Deputy Danielle Mason of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, reported that Patel lived and worked at the Ramada Inn.
Deputy Coroner Lonnie Miley said Patel was inside the trailer when the load shifted in the wrong direction, causing the heavy cargo to fall on top of him. Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones later identified the cargo as heavy metal gates.
Patel died instantly from his injuries. Miley pronounced him dead at 2:45 p.m.
Authorities said Patel died just two days before his 53rd birthday. His family has been notified.
Emergency crews remained at the scene for some time as they worked to remove the heavy gates from the victim.
No other injuries were reported.
The circumstances that caused the load to shift have not been released. Because the incident occurred during a workplace operation, the fatality is expected to be investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Officials have not released additional information about Patel, including how long he had worked at the Ramada Inn or whether he was employed by the hotel or a trucking company.
The investigation is ongoing.
Cover photo courtesy: Screenshot/13WMAZ.
