A tragic incident occurred at a Tyson Foods facility in southwest Georgia, leading to the death of a woman and injuries to two others, according to state officials on Friday.
As reported by Mitchell County Coroner Robby Willis, a significant portion of the plant’s infrastructure collapsed onto the cab of an 18-wheeler parked outside. The victim has been identified as Bajarma Batozhapov, a 61-year-old resident of Las Vegas, who was asleep inside the vehicle at the time of the accident.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which advocates for approximately 1,600 workers at the facility, indicated that the tragedy was linked to the explosion of a boiler. In response to the incident, Tyson Foods stated that they are collaborating with local officials to investigate the cause of the fire, which reportedly persisted for around three hours.
Recovery efforts necessitated heavy machinery to clear debris from the truck, and unfortunately, the recovery of the woman’s body did not occur until around 2 p.m. on Friday. Thankfully, her husband, who was not present in the truck during the incident, escaped unharmed. Coroner Willis has withheld the exact cause of death pending an autopsy scheduled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for Monday.
In a public statement, Tyson extended heartfelt condolences to the family and friends affected by the tragedy, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring the safety of their team members. They assured that a thorough investigation into the incident’s causes is underway.
Bryce Rawson, a spokesperson for the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office, confirmed both the fatality and the injuries but refrained from providing additional details as the inquiry is still in progress.
The Camilla plant, which serves a community of approximately 5,000 residents, stands as Mitchell County’s largest employer. Tyson Foods acquired the facility in 2018 as part of a $2.16 billion acquisition of Keystone Foods. The facility has a focus on producing chicken nuggets and fillets for the restaurant marketplace.
Camilla’s Mayor Kelvin Owens emphasized the vital role Tyson Foods plays in the local agricultural economy, stating, “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy down here, and Tyson is a major part of that.” He also highlighted the significance of the company beyond economic terms, saying, “They are important to us as people. We consider them family and we’re going to do everything we can to support them during this time.”
