A mechanic was crushed to death yesterday by a dump truck inside an auto repair business in Roslyn Heights, police said.

Charles Donohue, 53, of Amityville, was pronounced dead at the Roslyn Auto Express, 71 Mineola Ave., about 3 p.m., shortly after he was discovered by someone who entered the shop, Nassau police said.

Homicide Det. Sgt. Richard Laursen said, "We have to confirm it, but there are some indications that there was a safety alert on that type of truck [a 1979 Ford dump truck] where you can accidentally cause the body to come down without hitting the levers in the cab."

The mechanic was working alone, police said, and the time of the accident was not yet determined. "He was last seen at 11:30 in the morning," Laursen said.

Homicide detectives said they were continuing to investigate.

It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe.  Credit: Newsday/A. J. Singh; Gary Licker

'Beneath the Surface': A look at the rise in shark sightings off LI shores It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe. 

It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe.  Credit: Newsday/A. J. Singh; Gary Licker

'Beneath the Surface': A look at the rise in shark sightings off LI shores It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe. 

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