TOLEDO, Ohio — A worker is dead after being crushed Wednesday afternoon at the Toledo Assembly Complex.
First responders were dispatched to the Toledo Jeep plant shortly after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to a report from Toledo police, who were called to assist Toledo Fire & Rescue Department.
The employee, identified by police on Thursday as 53-year-old Antonio Gaston, was working on the Jeep Gladiator line tightening undercarriage body bolts. Gaston became caught under a vehicle moving on the assembly line and died at the scene from crush injuries, Toledo Fire said.
How Gaston became stuck under the vehicle remains under investigation, police said.
The United Auto Workers Local 12 on social media offered condolences Wednesday night:
Stellantis issued a statement about the incident just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday:
Stellantis is aware of an incident involving one of our employees at the Toledo Assembly Complex. The Toledo Fire Department has been called for assistance. As this incident is currently under investigation, we cannot provide any further details at this time.
In an updated statement on Thursday at 12:20 p.m., Stellantis said the following:
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and coworkers of the Toledo Assembly Complex employee who was involved in a fatal workplace accident yesterday. We will continue to work with the authorities to investigate the cause of this accident. Out of respect for the family, we will not confirm the identity of the employee. Counseling services will be available for Toledo Assembly employees.
OSHA investigation
On Wednesday afternoon, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed there is a current investigation into the incident. Information about the investigation will not be available until the investigation is completed, which, by law, could take up to six months.
In a February 2023 inspection report listed on OSHA's website, Stellantis was cited for not maintaining "clean, orderly and sanitary" workplace conditions. The citation focused on the JL Paint Building and work areas that were not kept clean and sanitary, resulted in a primer described as a skin and eye irritant and could cause allergic reactions "coating surfaces of objects, the floor, walls and work surfaces."
OSHA was also on site for an inspection in May, but no violations were cited.
The February 2023 and May inspection are the only two records listed for Stellantis in Ohio since 2019.
Lawmaker reactions
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur issued a statement in the wake of the employee's death:
“My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family, friends, and union brothers and sisters of the auto worker who tragically lost his life today in a workplace accident at Toledo Jeep. Last fall on the picket line many workers shared their concerns about worker safety on the job.
“I urge federal authorities from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Stellantis as well as its suppliers to exhaust every resource necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the brave men and women who go to work in those facilities each day. All parties must keep the promises made to workers and foster an enduring culture of worker safety. I will continue to monitor the results of the mandated investigations that will take place in the coming days.”
State Rep. Derek Merrin also released a statement regarding the fatal incident:
“I am keeping the family, friends, and colleagues of the hard-working Toledo Jeep employee who lost their life today in my prayers and sending my deepest condolences. This is a tragedy and I urge Stellantis and federal authorities to do a thorough investigation to ensure this does not happen again."
Previous fatalities at Toledo's Jeep plant
2005: Two people died, including the shooter, in an incident in January 2005. Myles Meyers entered the North Assembly plant, shooting three people and killing one before fatally turning the gun on himself. Toledo police said Meyers used his access card to get into the plant in north Toledo. Meyers had apparently strapped a shotgun to his body and carried it into the plant. Supervisor Roy Thacker was killed in the shooting.
2007: An accidental death occurred when Michael Tiller was found in a battery washer at DaimlerChrysler's Toledo North Assembly Plant. Security at Jeep called for an ambulance around 6:30 a.m. to tend to Tiller, who was injured at the plant. That ambulance took Miller to the emergency room at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him dead. OSHA sent two investigators to the plant.
2021: An apparent suicide took place at the Jeep paint shop. WTOL 11 reports suicide only in the event of it being in a public place.
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