A 19-year-old sanitation worker died in a horrific industrial accident Sunday night after being sucked into an active meat grinder while cleaning equipment at a California burrito factory, authorities and reports confirm.
The tragedy occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the Tina’s Burritos food processing plant in Vernon, an industrial city near Los Angeles. According to the Vernon Police Department, the victim, whose name has not been released, was working the night shift cleaning a large industrial meat grinder when the machine suddenly activated.
Horrified colleagues witnessed the incident unfold. Police reports indicate the teenager let out a cry for help as he was pulled into the grinder. Fellow workers desperately scrambled to shut off the equipment but were tragically unable to stop it in time.
“The machine was grinding the after-hours sanitation worker to his death,” a police statement detailed. Officers arriving at the scene recovered the young man’s body from the machinery.
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy,” Vernon Police Sgt. Daniel Onopa told ABC 7. He emphasized the profound shock and trauma experienced by those who witnessed the event.
Authorities stated no foul play is currently suspected. However, the incident has triggered a significant investigation. Both the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office are examining the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident, focusing on workplace safety protocols and machine operation procedures.
This devastating incident adds to a recent string of fatal industrial accidents across the United States:
Last Month (Missouri): Nicolas Lopez Gomez, 38, died after becoming trapped in an industrial oven while working a shift at the Glister Marylee Cereal Plant in Missouri. Colleagues discovered him stuck inside, and he was pronounced dead shortly after emergency responders arrived.
Earlier this Month (Italy): In a separate but equally shocking incident, Italian builder Andrea Russo, 35, died after being “ingested” into the engine of a plane preparing for takeoff at Milan’s Bergamo Airport on July 8. Russo had reportedly trespassed onto the runway.
The death of the 19-year-old at Tina’s Burritos has cast a harsh spotlight on workplace safety, particularly for sanitation crews working with heavy industrial equipment during off-hours. The community and the victim’s coworkers are receiving support services as investigations into the cause of the grinder activating unexpectedly continue.
