Contractor Dies at Marathon Petroleum’s Sand Facility in New Mexico

A contractor from Marshall, Texas working at a sand facility in Loving, New Mexico died tragically while performing an inspection on a railroad tank car at about 9:00 a.m. on May 12^th, 2020.

According to Albuquerque Journal, Eddy County deputies were advised that the contractor was found unconscious and not breathing inside a railroad tank car around 9 a.m. Carlsbad Current-Argus reported that he “was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel at the Marathon Rio Hub Rail Terminal at 70 Potash Mines Road and U.S. Highway 285, per news releases from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office and Marathon Petroleum Corporation.”

The Occupational Health and Safety Bureau of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is investigating the industrial accident. A NMED spokesperson told Carlsbad Current-Argus that “we don’t have many details at this point and an inspector is onsite gathering additional information.”

Eddy County Sheriff’s spokesperson said the contractor’s body was transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for an autopsy on Tuesday and the fatal incident is also being investigated by the Eddy County Sheriff’s detectives.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s spokesperson said the corporation is cooperating with state and local law enforcement as they investigate the accident.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the worker after this tragic accident. Our experienced railroad accident lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP will follow up with any updates to the investigation as information becomes available.