Man Seriously Injured At Ford Plant

A man seriously injured April 19 at Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant on Miller Road in Avon Lake was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center by ambulance after stormy weather prevented the Life Flight helicopter from transporting the victim.

Capt. Greg Davis of the Sheffield Village Fire Department said they received a call about the injury at 3:40 p.m.

“He had gotten caught between two pallets of product,” Davis said. “He was squeezed in between them and suffered multiple fractures and traumatic injuries.”

Davis said an extrication was not required and the 61-year-old man was conscious when paramedics arrived.

“Ford has their own EMS so he was packaged up on a backboard when we arrived,” Davis said.

The injured man was taken by ambulance to the Avon Emergency Care Center where he was met by a MetroHealth ground transportation unit equipped with a medical team.

“The helicopters were not flying due to weather,” Davis said. “He was transferred to the Avon ER to stabilize,” Davis said.

The man’s name was not available for release and Davis said it was unclear if he was a Ford employee or an outside worker, such as a delivery person.

A source at the said that since the Ford plant operates on both Avon Lake and Sheffield Village soil, the two cities alternate by month who will respond to calls. Davis confirmed that arrangement has been in place “for decades.” The plant's address is 650 Miller Road.

Davis said Avon Lake did send a heavy rescue unit after initially hearing the man was trapped and needed to be extricated.

No additional information on the man’s condition was available at deadline. Sources at Ford did not respond by posting.