Update: Dundalk Marine Terminal Victim Identified as Local Man

(Updated 10:50 a.m.) A 46-year-old man died Tuesday morning at the after being run over by a commercial truck that had started rolling after he'd parked it, according to a preliminary investigation.

The victim, James Mills Gillus, of the 3000 block of Dundalk Ave., was an employee of Maryland Environmental Services.

"He started at MES in February of 2004. He was a very well-liked, very well-thought of employee," said Chris Garrigan, a spokeswoman for Maryland Environmental Services. "He was a good guy, a hardworking guy with a great attitude, and people here are very upset."

Betty Gillus, the victim's mother, described her son as a friendly man who enjoyed taking on small projects.

"He was a hard worker and always liked to help people," she said. "He liked making things with his hands, working with wood, and fixing up his own home."

The Baltimore City Fire Department received report of an accident at the Port of Baltimore shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday.

“The fire department responded to the Dundalk Marine Terminal after receiving a call about a type of industrial accident,” Baltimore City Fire Department Spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright said. “He was pronounced dead at the scene. His injuries were such that no efforts at resuscitation were possible."

Sgt. Jonathan Green, spokesman for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, said the incident occurred about 10:15 a.m. at Berth 14 at the Dundalk Marine Terminal, not Berth 18 as originally reported by the fire department.

"From preliminary findings, it appears that the deceased was the driver of the vehicle," Green said. "After parking the vehicle near his company's building he exited the vehicle and walked away. Less than a minute later, he realized that the vehicle was rolling and attempted to get into the vehicle and stop it. In the process of attempting to get into the vehicle, he was struck by the vehicle."

Green described the vehicle as a three-axle commercial truck.

The most recent death at the Port of Baltimore occurred in September 2003, according to Richard Scher, director of communications for the Port. In that incident, an employee of Marine Repair was struck and killed by an over-the-road truck at the Seagirt Marine Terminal.

Maryland Environmental Services is an independent state agency, founded in 1970 and based in Millersville, "that aims to protect and enhance the state's air, land and water resource," according to the organization's website.