Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Press Release - Update on United Ethanol Incident

Below is a press release from Milton Police Chief Dan Layber.  The Milton Courier reported that a memorial fund has been established.  Read more on the Milton Courier's website: www.miltoncourieronline.com



On Friday, April 19, 2013, Jerod W. Guell, 27, of Janesville, Wisconsin died in a grain bin accident at the United Ethanol plant in Milton, Wisconsin. United Ethanol employees initially attempted to rescue Guell from the grain bin after he was buried by corn, however, they were unsuccessful. Sixteen fire departments from Wisconsin and Illinois subsequently responded to the scene and a 12 hour rescue and recovery operation ensued until Mr. Guell was removed from the bin late that night.

The Rock County Coroner’s Office subsequently performed an autopsy on Mr. Guell and determined that the cause of death was asphyxia due to compression of the chest when he was buried by the corn. The preliminary autopsy report lists the death as accidental.

The City of Milton Police Department conducted an on scene investigation, and a follow up investigation into the death of Mr. Guell, and also found no evidence of anything other than an accidental death. It appears that Mr. Guell was working in the lower portion of the grain bin when a large amount of corn collapsed on to him from the outer portions of the bin, causing him to be buried.