A Richmond man was killed Wednesday morning in an industrial accident at Astemo Americas Plant 2 in Berea, just one day after Gov. Andy Beshear visited the city for the announcement of a major expansion of the company’s local operations.
The victim has been identified as 33-year-old Bradley Clouse of Richmond.
The fatal accident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Plant 2 facility in the Berea Industrial Park.
According to preliminary information obtained by WBON-TV, Clouse was reportedly investigating varnish leaking from a piece of robotic equipment when he went inside the machine and was crushed.
The equipment was reportedly locked at the time, making it unclear how the machinery was able to move or otherwise cause the fatal injuries. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
The Madison County Coroner’s Office and other investigators responded to the facility Wednesday morning. OSHA is also investigating the workplace fatality.
The incident comes less than 24 hours after Beshear was in Berea celebrating what officials described as the largest private investment in Madison County in more than two decades.
Astemo Americas announced Tuesday an initial $112 million investment to expand its Berea automotive manufacturing operations, creating 114 new jobs. Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley said the project is expected to ultimately represent approximately $379 million in investment and as many as 282 jobs.
The expansion includes approximately 300,000 square feet of additional operational space across Astemo’s two Berea plants, along with facility upgrades and new manufacturing equipment.
The investigation into Wednesday morning’s fatal accident remains ongoing. WBON-TV will update this developing story as additional information becomes available.
