Worker killed in St. Joseph industrial accident

ST. JOSEPH | A St. Joseph resident was killed Wednesday in an industrial accident at Herzog.

Buchanan County Undersheriff Lt. Col. Bill Puett said around 1 p.m., Robert V. Montgomery, 40, was “working on a piece of a railcar and there was an accident where a piece fell and killed him.”

He said Montgomery was pronounced dead at the scene after the piece of equipment fell directly on him.

The accident occurred at Herzog’s railcar repair shop, just off Easton Road on County Road 55. Workers there perform maintenance as well as custom work on railcars.

Employees at Herzog, which is headquartered in St. Joseph and does construction and railroad business across the country, declined to comment on the accident.

Counselors were on the scene Wednesday for employees, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was investigating.

Puett said more information will be released once the investigation is completed.