Trucker’s wife crushed by collapsed building while resting in sleeper during Tyson plant explosion 

A truck driver’s wife was killed in an overnight explosion at a Tyson Foods plant while resting in their truck cab. 

The explosion happened at the Tyson Foods plant  at 7220 US 19 in Camilla, Georgia on Thursday night, December 26th. 

According to a statement from Tyson Foods, a boiler exploded inside of the facility, causing a portion of the building to collapse on top of a semi truck parked outside of the building. The wife of the truck driver was resting inside of the sleeper berth at the time of the explosion and was crushed in the subsequent collapse. The truck driver was inside of the building at the time of the explosion. It is unclear if he sustained any injuries, but was reportedly speaking with law enforcement outside of the building following the explosion. The driver reportedly was unsure if his wife had survived the accident or not. 

First responders were able to contain the fire by 2:50 a.m. on Friday morning, December 27th, but efforts to retrieve the body had to be paused until heavy machinery arrived to help clear the debris. 

“We do have visual confirmation on her but as far as having access to her, we don’t,” said Mitchell County Coroner, Jamey Thompson, who confirmed that the woman had died prior to the retrieval of her body. 

The names of the truck driver and his wife have not been released, but the woman’s body was finally recovered from the wreckage as of 2:10 PM EST. 

At least one other person was critically injured in the explosion, and others were severely burned. 

“Sadly, our members have reported to us that a person was severely injured and may not survive; and several union members were severely burned in a boiler explosion this morning at the Tyson poultry processing facility in Camilla, Georgia,” read a statement from the  Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, who represents some of the workers at the Tyson Plant. 

“We are working with the company, and local emergency authorities to ensure that all the workers impacted are taken care of. The health and safety of workers must be a top priority at poultry plants, and we are working to assist anyone injured last night. RWDSU representatives are on the ground and available to assist. Our members and the community of Camilla depend on this facility operating, it is too early to tell what happened last night but there must be a thorough investigation into this incident, and workers must be able to work safely in the facility.”

“We stand with the workers, our members for over 50 years, at this facility and countless others across the industry who need increased safety at work. No worker should ever have to worry that when they go to work, they may not be able to return home safe and sound.”

“I know this is a big industry for Mitchell County. It was kind of only one portion of the plant that sustained damage,” said Thompson. “I know it’s a horrible tragedy for the victims that were burned and also to the victim that did die. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.”