Tyson Foods truck driver killed at Ark. plant

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – A Tyson Foods truck driver was killed after being pinned between two truck trailers outside the company's Springdale plant, Arkansas police said Thursday.

Merrill Reynolds, 50, was pinned between the back of his truck's trailer and another trailer outside of Tyson's Berry Street plant at about 11 p.m. Wednesday, police said. Authorities are investigating how Reynolds ended up between the trailers.

Lt. Kevin Lewis, a spokesman for the Springdale Police Department, said no other drivers saw the accident. Lewis said the driver who found Reynolds noticed that Reynolds' brake was not set when he tried to move his truck forward.

Reynolds did not have a pulse by the time paramedics arrived, Lewis said.

Reynolds worked for Tyson for almost 27 years, company spokesman Worth Sparkman said, adding that the company also is investigating and has notified federal authorities. An autopsy is also pending.

Juan Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said the agency opened an investigation Thursday. OSHA can take up to six months to complete an investigation, he said.

More than 170 people were hospitalized at the same Tyson plant in June when chlorine gas was leaked inside a building. Authorities say the gas formed when a plant employee accidentally poured chlorine solution into a drum of acid.