Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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Authorities unsure how harnassed man fell into grain elevator
Posted: 02.21.2013 at 7:05 PM
Katie Lopez

Katie Lopez is a reporter for Action 4 News.

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At this point, police aren't sure exactly what happened.

They say the man was harnessed up as he went near the edge of the silo, but for some reason he fell.

Inside the bin is bi products of corn and once someone’s in there, the chances of getting out are slim to none.

Edith Hernandez's husband works at Azteca Milling in Edinburg.

The minute she heard someone had fallen into one of the silo's she rushed over thinking the worst.

"I didn't ask for permission,” Hernandez said. “I just rushed in there. I knew how to get in because I drop my husband off every day, and they told me someone had passed away."

Her husband is fine, but someone else's family is now in mourning.

Edith said this incident is a grim reminder of how dangerous this type of work is.

"My husband has never complained about the safety, but it is dangerous,” Hernandez said. “If they fall in they can easily be sucked under and then if the blades are going, that's it." 

Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snyder said they're not sure how the male victim fell into the bin.

He was said to be properly harnessed.

“He had have a harness on and a fall protection in place," Snyder said.

Once he hit the corn byproduct, which is what is housed in that particular silo, he probably sank and quickly.

That's what rescue crews believe happened.

The only way fire crews were able to locate him was by following the same cable that was supposed to save his life.

"We just followed the cable in and we had to use shovels to move the corn away from him and pull him out," Snyder said.
           
The Edinburg Police Department have since taken over the investigation.

Osha has also been called in to assist because it is an industrial incident.

The name of the victim hasn't been released, pending notification of kin.

We'll continue following this story and bring you the very latest as it becomes available to us.

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