A worker at Stellantis’ Sterling Stamping Plant in Sterling Heights died this week after a machine fell on him.
The worker was lifting a press machine with a crane Wednesday night in order to work on it, according to an initial Sterling Heights Police investigation, and the machine shifted, falling on the man and crushing him.
He was later taken to an area hospital. It wasn’t immediately clear if that’s where he died.
Jodi Tinson — a spokeswoman for Stellantis, the company formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group — provided a statement about Wednesday’s death:
“Stellantis confirms that there was a workplace accident at the Sterling Stamping Plant on April 21, resulting in the death of one of our employees. The incident is currently under investigation. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our employee.”
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The man was listed as a third-shift crane operator, according to a Facebook posting by Local 1264. The union noted that grief counselors would be available at the plant.
Comments from coworkers described the man as an awesome guy and great person.
Just under 2,200 people work at the 2.74 million-square-foot Sterling Stamping, which produces stampings and assemblies such as hoods, roofs and liftgates for a range of vehicles, including the Dodge Durango, Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram trucks, according to the company.
UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, director of the union’s Stellantis department, said thoughts and prayers are with the man’s family.
“We are working with our joint UAW-Stellantis Health and Safety Department to get more information on this fatal workplace accident and providing the necessary support for our Local 1264 brothers and sisters during this crisis,” she said in a statement.
UAW President Rory Gamble also released a statement:
“Our prayers go out to the loved ones of our brother who died last evening. Every day our UAW members kiss their families goodbye and head to work proud of their craft and with hopes for their future. Today one of our members will not return home because of a workplace injury. Next week is Workers Memorial Day and the UAW will honor our members who died on the job from workplace injuries this year,” he said.
The UAW provided information about two other workplace fatalities, not related to COVID-19, involving its members last year:
- On June 17, Michael Curcio, 58, a maintenance technician at auto supplier Metalsa in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was crushed when a transfer table dropped on him. State workplace safety regulators issued several citations.
- On Dec. 30, Mark McKnight, 57, a contract electrician for Caravan FM inside General Motors’ Marion Stamping facility in Indiana, was killed when a 4,500-pound partition wall made of tubular steel fell on him.
Phoebe Wall Howard contributed to this report.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence. Become a subscriber.