An Ohio worker who was crushed to death at one of Ford’s plants has been named, according to reports.
Gregory Knopf was killed at the Sharonville Transmission Plant on Monday after getting pinned by a press machine. He was 64 years old.
A Sharonville Police Department spokesperson told The Cincinnati Enquirer that the machine had been undergoing routine maintenance when it “inadvertently turned on.”
First responders were called to the scene at 9.45 am. After the worker was pulled from the machine, medics started performing life-saving measures.
Knopf was subsequently rushed to Bethesda North Hospital, where he later died, according to Sharonville Police.
The spokesperson added that there were “multiple witnesses” to the incident, which is being considered as an “industrial accident.”
Knopf’s son, Corey, told WCPO that his father “absolutely loved his family.”
“In just a matter of minutes, everything went from going about your day as normal to changing your life for the rest of your life,” he added.
Miranda Boutwell, Knopf’s daughter, said that her father was always “willing to help anyone in need.”
“I wish he would be around to see the rest of my life, but I know that he will be proud, and I know that he is proud,” Boutwell told WCPO.
In his obituary, Knopf is described as a lifelong resident of Cincinnati who was survived by his wife of 39 years and his four children.
“Greg built a life centered on faith, family, and hard work. He was a skilled plumber and pipe fitter who took pride in his craft and the work of his hands. Above all, he loved the Lord and his family with his whole heart, a love that was evident in the way he lived and cared for those around him,” the tribute reads in part.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Ford Motor Company are all investigating the accident, according to police.
Jessica Enoch, a spokesperson for Ford, confirmed the incident in a statement given to The Detroit Free Press.
“Our deepest condolences are with the friends and family of our team member,” Enoch said. “Counseling services are available for our employees at the plant.
“Safety is our highest priority and we are investigating the incident,” she continued. “We would also like to thank our community first responders.”
Laura Dickerson, the vice president of the United Auto Workers, shared her own statement about Knopf’s death on X.
“No one should ever go to work and never come home,” Dickerson wrote. “It is our sacred duty as a union to protect the life, health, and safety of our members on the job.
“Members deserve a workplace free of threat to life and body,” she continued. “Our prayers are with the family, co-workers and loved ones of our fallen brother.”
There were 5,070 fatal work injuries in 2024, according to the most recent Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The survey also found that one worker died every 104 minutes from a work-related injury that same year.
Workers in transportation and material moving occupations experienced the most fatalities. An estimated 1,391 workers from that sector died from fatal work injuries in 2024, according to the CFOI.
The Independent has contacted the Ford Motor Company and the Sharonville Police Department for further comment.
