Autopsy: 3 Workers at North Carolina Slim Jim Plant Were Crushed to Death

July 27, 2009

Autopsies show three workers killed in the collapse of a Slim Jim factory in North Carolina were crushed to death.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Friday that autopsy results were released for workers Barbara McLean, Lewis Watson and Rachel Pulley. They died from blunt force trauma in the June 9 explosion at the ConAgra plant in Garner, where nearly 40 were injured.

Two federal agencies have blamed natural gas for the blast. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said contractors installing a water heater likely vented natural gas inside the building before the explosion as they purged a gas line. Officials said the gas should have been vented outside.

The plant was closed for weeks, but production is scheduled to resume on Monday.