Marion Jose Rugama dies in fatal Bartow County industrial accident

Marion Jose Rugama dies in fatal Bartow County industrial accident

Fatal Bartow County industrial accident death of Marion Jose Rugama – Obituary

Marion Jose Rugama, a 33-year-old contractor from Norcross, Georgia, was found dead on Monday night at the Qcells manufacturing facility located at Great Valley Parkway and Cassville Pine Log Road in Bartow County.

Emergency responders from the Cartersville Fire Department arrived at the scene to find Rugama lying unresponsive atop a tank. He had no pulse and was not breathing. It was determined that the oxygen level in the area where he was found was just 15%, which is too low to sustain life. Rugama was removed from the tank by fire personnel and later pronounced dead by a deputy coroner.

Rugama had been working for Hyoungwon E&C America, Inc. at the time of the incident. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of his death, with a nitrogen leak suspected, as there are no other chemicals used in that section of the facility.

The incident has gained international attention, with reports noting it was the first of two fatal workplace accidents within a span of two days at U.S. sites operated by Korean firms. The following day, another contractor, Allen Kowalski, died at a Hyundai battery plant in Bryan County after being struck by falling cargo.

Investigations into Rugama’s death are ongoing, and officials have not released further details at this time.