Woman killed when tire weighing hundreds of pounds falls on her at work, Iowa cops say
An employee at a tire manufacturing plant in Iowa was killed in a “tragic” workplace accident, company officials said.
The Des Moines police and fire departments responded around 8:30 a.m. Sept. 5 to reports of a potential death at the Titan International tire plant, WHO13 reported.
Titan manufactures “off-the-road tires” for “agriculture, construction, forestry and mining equipment,” according to the company’s website.
Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department said a several-hundred-pound tire fell on the worker, the Des Moines Register reported. The woman’s identity has not been released.
The incident is being investigated by the Titan Distribution safety teams and the QPS Employment Group, the outlet reported.
QPS is a staffing agency with 54 locations throughout the Midwest.
“Titan deeply regrets to announce the tragic loss of a QPS Employment Group employee who was performing services at our Des Moines, IA facility,” the company said in a statement provided to KCCI.
“Our thoughts are with the employee’s family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. We are committed to supporting them in every way possible, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities and QPS Employment Group to ensure all safety protocols are thoroughly reviewed and enforced,” the statement said.
McClatchy News reached out to United Steelworkers Sept. 6 for comment but did not immediately hear back.
United Steelworkers Local Union 164L represents Titan employees at the company’s Des Moines facility.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Woman killed when tire weighing hundreds of pounds falls on her at work, Iowa cops say."
