MT. PLEASANT, Tenn. – A worker was killed overnight at the Tennessee Aluminum Processors plant in Mt. Pleasant.
Officials said the machine operator fell into an aluminum scrap shredder sometime after midnight Thursday.
44-year-old Keith Frierson was unable to pull himself out of the hopper and was sucked into the shredding machine. He died instantly.
Other workers noticed he was missing after about an hour, and found him inside the machine.
Mt. Pleasant police do not suspect foul play. Officials said it was a horrible accident that caused Frierson to fall.
Detectives said they thought it was possible Frierson was trying to dislodge a piece of scrap metal caught on a belt when he somehow lost his balance and fell into the hopper.
OSHA and state safety officials will join the investigation.
