Photo: Steven Dierkes/Facebook
An Illinois man “died instantly” after falling into a crucible at the Caterpillar foundry in Mapleton last week, according to officials.
He died of “thermal annihilation,” according to the statement, which noted that foul play is not suspected.
Dierkes was the father of three daughters — ages 4, 5 and 12 — according to anobituary.
Dierkes, who turned 39 one month prior to his death, was described in his obituary as “a hard-working teddy bear of a man with calloused hands and a tender heart.”
Steven Dierkes/Facebook
“Our thoughts are with this employee’s family, friends and colleagues,” Miller told the outlet in a statement. “The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.”
Caterpillar did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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The Peoria County Coroner’s Office and Peoria County Sheriff’s Office were informed of the accident just before 10 a.m. on June 2, according to the coroner’s statement.
The caller stated a man had been “involved in an industrial accident” at the Mapleton foundry and “was obviously deceased.”
“The contents of the crucible were removed and placed in another container to cool. Several hours later, my staff and I were able to sort through the metal fragments and find his remains,” the coroner said.
The PSCO and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the cause of the accident.
“Most of all, he was a wonderful loving father to his daughters that he absolutely adored,” the obituary continued. “He will be greatly missed.
Dierkes is the second person to die at the Mapleton foundry in the last six months, according to theJournal Star. The outlet reported that a 50-year-old manfell to his deathat the facility in December 2021 after he allegedly stepped off a ladder and fell 20 feet through a hole in the floor.
source: people.com
