Ohio Gravel Pit Worker Dies Trying to Clear Jammed Hopper

A worker died Saturday morning when he fell trying to clear a jammed hopper at a gravel pit in Clark County, Ohio.

Noticing that a conveyor belt had seized, the worker at Enon Sand and Gravel climbed to the top of the hopper to investigate and fell into it. Responders labored several hours trying to both dismantle the hopper and digging to reach the worker buried inside.

Jacob King, fire chief of the Bethel Township Fire Department, told the Springfield News-Sun that crews on scene attempted to cut through the side of the hopper using a cutting torch.

Also responding were firefighters from Clark County, Enon-Mad River Township and Springfield Township.

The incident is under investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.