A worker was crushed Wednesday in an accident at a metals recycler south of downtown Seattle.

Medics were called to Seattle Iron & Metals Corp. in the 600 block of S. Myrtle Street at about 9 a.m.

The Seattle Fire Dept. said three men were doing repair work on a machine known as the metal shredder, which is used to crush cars and large appliances.

"It's a pretty good size machine," said Seattle Fire Dept. Lt. Harold Webb.

The machine was not turned on, but the heavy lid of the mechanism fell on the workers and they were crushed.

The workers were trapped in the machinery and had to be extricated by the Fire Department's heavy rescue team.

One of the workers died at the scene. The two others were taken to Harborview Medical Center with crushing injuries.