Man found dead outside Smithfield Foods plant in Tar Heel
CENTER FOR US THIS NOON.
CHELSEA, THANK YOU.
>> I'M CHRIS LOVINGOOD IN THE
WRAL LIVE CENTER. WE HAVE AN
UPDATE TODAY AND THIS CASE WERE
FALLING OVER IN BLADEN COUNTY.
THAT'S THE SITUATION WHERE
THERE IS AN AMMONIA RELEASE.
A HAZMAT SITUATION IN WHICH
4 EMPLOYEES WERE TAKEN TO THE
HOSPITAL. WE KNOW THAT ONE
OTHER PERSON WAS FOUND OUTSIDE
IN A VEHICLE AND LATER DIED.
SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN
COMMUNICATION WITH SMITHFIELD
FOODS AND THEY SAY THAT THERE
WAS AN AMMONIA RELEASE IN THE
REFRIGERATED SECTION OF THE
FACILITY AROUND ONE THIS
MORNING. AND WE HAVE ALSO
LEARNED THAT THERE WAS SOME
KIND OF MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT
HAPPENED IN THERE. WE'RE TRYING
TO GET MORE SPECIFICS WITH
THAT. BUT WE'VE GOT THAT UPDATE
WITHIN THE LAST 30 MINUTES OR
SO. IT'S STILL UNCLEAR IF THE
CAUSE OF THE DEATH IS RELATED
TO THE AMMONIA RELEASED.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE ACTUALLY
REACHED OUT TO THE CHIEF
MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE WITH
THE STATE TO TRY TO SEE IF
THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THIS.
IF THEY SCHEDULED AN AUTOPSY AS