CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) – A forklift operator was killed Thursday morning at a Wal-Mart store here in an apparent accident, police said.

Ronald A. Lopez, 29, was found unconscious on the forklift by another worker who was helping to move inventory, police said.

Lopez, who had worked for Wal-Mart for about 6 years, became pinned between the operator’s cage of the forklift and its lifting mechanism, police said.

The accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. in the store’s outdoor garden center.

John Chavez, spokesman for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said the agency was investigating. He would not release any details about the incident.

Cranston detectives, OSHA investigators and representatives from the state medical examiner’s office helped with the investigation at the scene.

An autopsy was to be performed, though police said Lopez’s death appeared to be an accident.

“He was a valued associate and very well-liked by all that knew him,” said Sharon Weber, a spokeswoman for Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart.

Weber said Wal-Mart was cooperating with the OSHA investigation and would not discuss specifics of the incident.

The Cranston store was to remain closed all day Thursday.