Employee reports death at Jeep assembly plant in Toledo

TOLEDO, Ohio — Wednesday is a day many employees at the Toledo Jeep Assembly Complex will remember forever.

“It's unimaginable that something like this could have happened in just a few seconds,” said a Jeep employee who spoke to WTOL 11 Wednesday evening, just hours after another employee at the plant was run over and died of his injuries.

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As current Jeep employees, they requested anonymity but recounted their experiences at the factory during the incident.

The Toledo Fire Department confirmed the death, but officials could not determine the employee's identity or the exact cause of death.

The anonymous employee, a quality control inspector, said he heard the incident while the others were taking a break.

“I know this happened where the chassis and body come together, where all the parts from all the plants come together. So this gentleman was doing his work on the break and apparently happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” they said. “The conveyor belt was turned on; it's just horrible.”

The United Auto Workers Local 12 union, which represents workers at the plant, released the following statement on social media:

“It breaks my heart. I'm praying for them. I can't imagine it,” the employee said. “I heard his wife was called into the plant. He has a wife and children, that's all I really know. I can't imagine it.”

OSHA officials told WTOL 11 that they have begun investigating the incident and that results may not be released for six months.

Stellantis also issued a statement on the incident:

Stellantis is aware of an incident involving one of our employees at the Toledo Assembly Complex. The Toledo Fire Department has been called to assist. As this incident is under investigation, we are unable to provide any further details at this time.