A General Motors employee was killed Wednesday morning in an accident at the GM Marion Metal Center in Marion, Indiana.
According to a media release from the Marion Police Department, officers responded to a call for an industrial accident Wednesday morning at the GM Marion Metal Center located at 2400 West Second Street. Officers responded by 7:06 am local time, at which time paramedics were already on the scene.
Upon arrival, officers were informed that General Motors employee Mark McKnight was killed in an industrial accident. McKnight was 57 years old.
GM Parma plant pictured here
In speaking with police officers, General Motors Site Director Robert Ogden indicated that employees in the area were moving a floor to ceiling wall unit composed of 4×4 welded metal tubing. The wall had not yet been secured to the floor, or by a connecting beam wall.
According to the police report, a forklift operator accidentally reversed a forklift into the unsecured floor to ceiling wall. The collision caused the wall to tip over and fall on top of McKnight, who was working on an electrical conduit located near the wall at the time of the accident. McKnight was unable to avoid the wall as it fell, which struck him and ultimately resulted in his death.
A coroner was called to the scene and pronounced McKnight dead at 7:24 am. The police investigation indicates that the death was accidental. An autopsy is pending at Northeast Indiana Forensic Center.
The GM Marion facility opened in 1956, and encompasses some 2.8 million square feet on 187 acres. Approximately 790 workers are employed there.
According to General Motors, the GM Marion Metal Center “provides stamped metal parts, blanks and sheet metal assembly to GM assembly plants throughout North America.” Products supported include a variety of cars, vans, SUVs and trucks.
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Comments
What a horribly tragic and sad accident. The forklift driver must be devastated. Condolences to Mark’s family.
RIP…… Condolences to his family and coworkers.
My sympathies to the family. It’s unfortunate but accidents do happen no matter how careful you try to be. RIP.
So sad . Our prayers go out to family friends and co-workers
GM has done an amazing job of emphasizing safety in everything we do. That being said, despite those efforts tragedies like this happen. It looks like several serious oversights here resulted in this mans death.
R.I.P. my UAW Brother.
My deepest condolences to his family, friends and co-workers. Yes it was an accident but a very preventable one at that. More planning with a health and safety dept. oversight needs to be routine with any out of the ordinary routine work such as this project. Had that been in place, this worker’s family would have welcomed him home. This Fork lift driver wouldn’t be dealing with the guilt of ending another worker’s life.
How sad. My sympathies to the family.
What a tragedy. Condolences to the family, friends and co-workers. RIP Mr. McKnight. RIP.
Sorry for the needless loss. Im sure the family and community lost a great guy.
A loving caring and thoughtful man. Never heard him say one bad word towards anyone. People like him make the world better. He will be missed. A good man and friend.