Fairfield accident victim identified

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - An accident at Fairfield Manufacturing Thursday morning left one man injured and another dead, according to Lafayette police. The Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office said 28-year-old Kyle Rhodes died at 11:59 a.m. Thursday.

Police said two men were pinned between a fork lift truck and a semi trailer on a rear unloading dock of the plant.

Rhodes' injuries were fatal and he was declared dead on the scene, but police waited until Friday to release his name. The coroner's office had to notify family.

The second victim, 22-year-old Gregory Peterson II, received an injury to his arm, police said. Hospital spokesperson Matt Oates said Peterson is currently being treated at Franciscan St Elizabeth’s East Hospital.

Police said both were employees at Fairfield Manufacturing.

Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) Spokesperson Stephanie McFarland confirmed that there was a fatality at Fairfield Manufacturing in Lafayette.

She said her office was just informed of the incident around 1:30 p.m.

McFarland said an IOSHA investigator has been sent to Fairfield, and no other information can be released until the investigation is complete.

The Tippecanoe County Coroner's office says an autopsy will be performed Friday.

It's possible more information about the worker's death could be released Friday afternoon after the autopsy.

Gary Lehman, CEO of Fairfield Manufacturing, released the following statement:

“This has been a devastating day at our plant and we are mourning the loss of our co-worker. While, we are working with IOSHA and the local authorities to understand what happened here today, our priority is our employee’s family as well as all the employees at Fairfield. We will be offering grief counseling to our employees starting as soon as possible. Our sympathies are extended to the family of our employee who lost his life here today.”