Andersons employee dies in accident at grain storage tank

11/3/2006

An employee of The Andersons grain storage complex died this afternoon outside one of the storage tanks at the complex off Illinois Avenue between Conant Street and Ford Road.

He was identified as Rodney Dinkens, 38, a 19-year employee, who was serving as inventory handling and safety manager.

Maumee police received a call about 12:50 p.m. today that a man had fallen outside Tank No. 2, which is part of a complex of grain silos and storage tanks located across Illinois Avenue from The Andersons General Store.

Rescue crews responding to the scene attempted to recover the victim, who reportedly was working with wheat grain when he became buried. Crews could not reach the man in time, and a Life Flight helicopter dispatched to the scene was later sent off.

A spokeswoman for The Andersons at the scene said the victim was one of four employees working around the tank when the accident occured, but could not immediately provide further identification pending next of kin. The Lucas County coroner's office and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

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