Worker crushed to death in industrial accident at Michigan manufacturing facility

An accident at DPR Manufacturing has cost an employee his life. The incident occurred at the company’s manufacturing facility in Warren, Michigan. According to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) the “22-year-old shop hand/apprentice was moving sheet metal with the use of a cart. While moving the sheet metal, the cart caught an uneven edge of a walking-working surface and tipped over onto the victim.” The worker was later identified as Matthew McCoy.

Mitch Hotts for Macomb Daily is reporting that when the Warren Fire Department reached Matthew on the scene, he was in cardiac arrest and had suffered other life-threatening crush injuries. After providing life support procedures, the worker was taken to Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital where he eventually died.

Dave Spencer and Nour Rahal for FOX 2 Detroit spoke with Matthew’s sister, Jami Reiterman. Jami told reporters that Matthew “was kind. Always kind. He would always walk through the door and ask me how my day was. He was the only one that ever did that."

Jami also described Matthew’s passion for his work at DPR Manufacturing, a family-owned company that specializes in custom steel, stainless steel, and aluminum fabrication. Jami said, "He was a machinist, so he ran certain machines... He did a lot of painting of the parts. He loved his job. He really did. He would come home and talk about all the cool stuff he got to work on (like) props for the Barbie movie premiere, and he was always excited about his job."

Alayna Wilder, a friend of Jami Reiterman, set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family raise money for Matthew’s services. According to the GoFundMe page, “Matthew was a kind soul who loved his job, playing video games, and drawing. He was very close to his siblings and friends. If you know Jami, you know that she is a hardworking, generous, compassionate individual who has helped many other families as they lost their loved ones. As Matthew's family and friends begin this debilitating grieving process, we ask that Jami be the recipient of compassion and generosity to offset the financial burden of his burial services.”

Alayna spoke with Hannah Mackay for The Detroit News. "Matthew was an awesome kid. We just want to make sure that Matthew can be honored in the way that is appropriate for him and (he) deserves."