Employee dies in accident at BNSF docking facility in Wis.
by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public RadioDuluth, Minn. — An employee died Wednesday morning in an industrial accident at Superior, Wisconsin's BNSF taconite dock facility.
An accident in the taconite shipping facility took the life of a 43-year-old male employee before 6:30 this morning. Preliminary details are unavailable, but BNSF Spokeswoman Amy Mcbeth confirms a single fatality.
The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe facility uses a lengthy system of conveyors to carry taconite from an unloading area well inland, to docks several blocks away in Allouez Bay. Superior fire Battalion Chief Steven Edwards said the investigation will look at that system.
"Most likely it involved the belt system in the facility," Edwards said.
Superior police say first responders attempted life saving efforts but were unsuccessful. The name of the victim is withheld while the investigation continues.
Bob Kelleher
• ReporterBob Kelleher joined MPR's Duluth News staff in 1990, after three years with a Duluth commercial radio station, and several years on broadcast stations in Iowa.
