A teen has died in North Carolina after he was pulled into a wood chipper on his first day on the job.
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Cox was found inside the wood chipper and pronounced dead on scene, officials say.
Officers determined the incident was accidental, and no foul play was suspected. OSHA in investigating the accident.
Debra Neal Sisk, Cox’s mother, told the station her son graduated from high school earlier this year and was desperate to find work.
The 19-year-old attempted to kick a tree part into the wood chipper on Saturday December 5, according to reports, and found himself pulled in as well. She questions whether he was being supervised when the accident happened.
“I loved him very much and I’m going to miss him very much”, said Cox’s mother.
Jon Crawford, the owner of the business, quickly hit the kill switch and put the machine in reverse, but was too late to save the teen.
Neighbors who did not know what had happened thought the crew was being attacked by bees. I’ve had one other accident where a person was injured.
Crawford added that Cox was working “side by side with two experienced employees” when the accident took place.
Crawford stated that after Cox’s untimely death, he hasn’t been able to sleep and he is “sick from it”.
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He has closed the business temporarily following the tragedy.
