Allen Kowalski dies in fatal Bryan County construction site accident

Allen Kowalski dies in fatal Bryan County construction site accident

Fatal Bryan County construction site death of Allen Kowalski – Obituary

Allen Kowalski, a 27-year-old worker, lost his life on Tuesday in a tragic accident at the Hyundai megasite in Bryan County, Georgia. His death marks the second fatality at the HL-GA Battery Company location in just three months.

The Bryan County Coroner’s Office confirmed Kowalski’s identity on Wednesday. His cause of death remains under investigation, with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation now handling his case.

According to the sheriff’s report, deputies were called to the construction site shortly before 11 a.m. When they arrived, they discovered Kowalski pinned beneath a large tan metal structure. A forklift operator on the scene reported that the load shifted unexpectedly while being unloaded, due to water pooling on its plastic cover. As they attempted to remove the water by cutting the plastic, the metal structure shifted again and collapsed. The operator tried to warn Kowalski to get clear, but the structure fell before he could move.

This incident occurred at a facility operated jointly by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solutions. Kowalski’s death follows that of 45-year-old Sunbok You, who died in a forklift accident on the same site in March. Additionally, two other serious accidents in recent months have required workers to be airlifted for emergency medical care.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation into Kowalski’s death, adding it to several ongoing probes concerning safety incidents at the site. Since construction began, OSHA has conducted over a dozen investigations, many resulting in penalties for subcontractors.

HL-GA Battery Company issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to safety for both its employees and subcontractors. However, records show that from April 2023 to July 2024, at least 53 injuries occurred at the megasite, with 14 labeled as traumatic. In 2023, another worker died after falling from a height of 60 feet.

Concerns about safety, unreported injuries, and treatment of undocumented workers have also been raised by former site employees. These issues have drawn increased scrutiny as construction continues on the high-profile project.