WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderOSHA says grain bin deaths could have been prevented

OSHA says grain bin deaths could have been prevented

MOUNT CARROLL (WREX) - OSHA officials say the deadly incident at a Mt. Carroll grain bin was preventable if certain rules and regulations were being followed.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman Scott Allen says investigators found no safety program at the grain bin and Wyatt Whitebread was illegally working at age 14. "There were "regulations that should have been followed and it appears they were not," said Allen.

Whitebread and Alejandro "Alex" Pacas, 19, were killed in the accident at the Consolidated Grain and Barge Company, 10650 Mill Road in Mt. Carroll. William "Will" Piper, 20, was flown to OSF St. Anthony's Medical Center where he is now in fair condition.

Investigators tell 13 News, a fourth person was working with the teens at the grain bin and is the one who called 911. The bin holds 500,000 bushels of corn. It was half full when the accident happened.

The victims all worked for Haafbach, LLC, which owns the grain bins. Haafbach has not commented on the accident.

OSHA is handling the first part of the investigation. Then the Carroll County Sheriff's Department and Carroll County Coroner's Office will do their investigation next week after the funerals are held for Whitebread and Pacas.