Ford Worker Killed After Machine Suddenly Powers On

A horrifying workplace accident at an Ohio Ford facility has left a longtime employee dead after a press machine unexpectedly turned on and trapped him.

Police and emergency crews were called to Ford’s Sharonville plant on East Sharon Road around 9:45 a.m. Monday after reports of an industrial incident, according to local reporting.

Investigators say the press was undergoing routine maintenance when it malfunctioned. The machine allegedly powered on without warning, pinning the worker and leaving him trapped.

First responders rushed to help and attempted life-saving measures once the employee was freed from the machine. He was then transported to Bethesda North Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 61-year-old Gregory Knopf.

Sharonville police said there were multiple witnesses and that the case is being treated as an industrial accident at this time.

The investigation is ongoing and involves the coroner’s office, OSHA, and Ford’s internal administrative staff.

In a statement, a Ford spokesperson called the death “a tragic incident,” adding that the company is in contact with Knopf’s family and is working to support them. The spokesperson also said counseling services are being made available to employees at the plant and emphasized that safety is the company’s top priority as it investigates what happened.

Officials have not released additional details about what may have caused the malfunction.