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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Teen dies after getting sucked into meat grinder at burrito factory
A teenage sanitation worker at a California factory making popular frozen burritos was sucked into a meat grinder and killed. The 19-year-old was cleaning an industrial food processor at Tina's Burritos factory in Vernon when the machine started up unexpectedly, according to police. Other employees heard the victim shouting for help and tried to turn off the grinder, but could not get it to stop, said Vernon Police Department Sgt Daniel Onopa. Officers responded to a call for an injured worker at a kitchen shortly after 9.30pm on Sunday. By the time they got to the scene, the worker had died, Onopa said. 'Our thoughts are with the family, friends and coworkers affected by this tragedy,' Onopa told ABC 6. Fellow workers gathered in a seating section outside the factory after the tragic incident and appeared distraught. The victim's identity was not immediately released. No foul play is suspected and it seemed to be an accident, Onopa said. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which works to protect workers in the state, was set to begin investigation on Monday. Vernon is about five miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Tina's Burritos' website states that it produces 'America's Best Single-Serve Frozen Burritos' and that 694 of them are heated up somewhere in the US every minute. More Trending 'Tina's began in Los Angeles with a handful of people, a kitchen, and a belief: 'Everyone should be able to afford a great tasting burrito'. That's never changed. We've grown – but not to go corporate,' states its site. 'We grew so we could feed more people. You can taste it in every bite. That stubborn simplicity? That's Tina's.' The company has not responded to a request for comment from Metro. The victim's death comes just a couple weeks after a 38-year-old factory worker got stuck in an industrial oven at a Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation cereal plant in Perryville, Missouri, and died. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man stabbed in heart on Christmas Day 'by abusive ex when she saw him on Tinder' MORE: Two men who cut down Sycamore Gap tree jailed for four years MORE: Couple guilty of murdering grandson they subjected to weeks of 'pain and misery'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Teen Killed in Meat Grinder Incident at Burrito Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A teenage cleaner was killed after he was sucked into a meat grinder at a Tina's Burritos factory. The 19-year-old sanitation worker, who has not been publicly identified, got trapped in the machine on Sunday night at a processing plant in Vernon, California. Sgt. Daniel Onopa, of the Vernon Police Department, said the victim was cleaning an industrial food processor at the site when the machine unexpectedly turned on. Coworkers heard his screams for help and tried to shut down the grinder, but were unable to do so in time to save his life, according to local news reports. The victim was declared dead when emergency crews arrived at the scene. Police say it appears to have been an accident and there is no suspicion of any foul play., There will be an investigation into how the machine was activated and managed to trap the young employee Newsweek has reached out by email to the Vernon Police Department, and has also messaged Tina's Burrito's outside of usual working hours through a contact form on its website, seeking further information and comment. File photo: an industrial cutter for grinding meat. File photo: an industrial cutter for grinding meat. Salomonus_/Getty Images Why It Matters The incident is likely to once again shine a light on industrial safety procedures, following a spate of accidents in recent years. In October last year, a tree worker lost both his legs in a woodchipper just 20 minutes into his first day on the job in Colorado. Investigations occasionally find fault with the companies involved. For example, the Department of Labor slapped Caterpillar Inc. with a fine of $145,027 in 2022 after claims that lax safety procedures had contributed to the death of an employee who was killed when he fell into a vat of molten iron in Illinois. What To Know The meat grinder incident in California occurred at about 9:30 p.m. local time when the after-hours cleaning crew were working at the site. Local news channel ABC 7 aired RMG News footage of the scene after the incident. Apparently filmed through a gate, past a fire truck with flashing lights, the clip showed workers milling around tables in a seating area, with some appearing emotional. One worker was shown wiping her eyes. Tina's Burritos is a well-known brand that makes single-serve frozen burritos. The company's website said it has so far fed more than 2 billion people and there is a video on the website to explain "how a 58-cent burrito gets made with this much flavor." CEO Robert Cross explained the company makes "over a million burritos a day," while several factory workers were featured in the footage explaining in Spanish a little about their roles and revealing which Tina's burrito was their personal favorite. What People Are Saying Sgt. Daniel Onopa, of the Vernon Police Department, said: "Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy." What Happens Next The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (known as Cal/OSHA) are now investigating the death.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Teenager dies after being sucked into a meat grinder at a burritos factory
A 19-year-old sanitation worker was horrifically killed after being sucked into a meat grinder at a California food processing plant. The unnamed teenager was working at Tina's Burritos when the deadly accident unfolded just before 9.30pm on Sunday, according to the Vernon Police Department. He had been working an overnight shift and cleaning the industrial meat grinder when it suddenly switched on, pulling him into the machine in front of his shocked colleagues. The victim, a member of the after-hours sanitation team, is believed to have cried out for help. However, workers were unable to shut the equipment down in time to save his life. Police who rushed to the scene confirmed they found the young man's body inside the machine after being called to the scene. Sgt. Daniel Onopa told ABC 6 the incident occurred around 9.30pm and that investigations are underway to determine what triggered the machine to start operating. Officials have indicated that they do not suspect foul play. Sgt. Onopa said: 'Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy.' Tina's Burritos has not yet issued a statement on the fatal accident at its plant. The company is famous for its single-serve frozen burritos.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Teenager dies after falling into a meat grinder at food processing factory in California
A 19-year-old died in a tragic accident after a meat grinder unexpectedly activated at a food processing facility in Vernon, California, according to local police The worker's name has not been released. He was a member of the sanitation team at Tina's Burritos on Vernon Avenue, the Vernon Police Department said. Daniel Onopa with the Vernon Police Department told KABC that the man was cleaning the industrial food processor when the machine activated unexpectedly. He said that other workers heard him scream and tried to stop the machine. When police arrived, the victim had already died. The incident reportedly occurred around 9:30pm. Police described the tragic event as an industrial accident. Local media reports that other workers were spotted outside the food processing facility in a break area in an emotional state. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration reportedly visited the facility on Monday. Vernon is approximately five miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
