Smithfield Packing Employee in Clinton, North Carolina Dies While Filling Tanker Truck With Sludge
An unusual workplace accident has cost the life of a Smithfield Packing employee in Clinton, North Carolina.
The employee, Brandon Christopher of Clinton, was apparently loading a tanker truck with slidge gathered from the wastewater department at the Smithfield Packing plant. Mr. Christopher was found dead at around 12:35 a.m. with his head in the opening of the tanker. Sludge contains methane gas which can be fatal is inhaled long enough. However, a definitive cause of this accident has not been identified and investigators will be working to determine if there were safety violations.
Our sympathies are with the Christopher family. Hopefully, state investigators can provide some answers as to what happened.