One worker died and three other people were injured after an ammonia leak at a warehouse in Iredell County on Friday.
Iredell Emergency Communications first was alerted to the leak at Lineage Logistics in Statesville at about 2 p.m. Friday, according to the county. When emergency responders arrived, one person was dead at the scene, and another was transported to a Winston-Salem hospital and is in critical condition.
Two Iredell County emergency responders were taken to a local hospital as a precaution after exposure to the chemical. They were released early Friday evening.
Hazardous Material Response Teams and Emergency Services staff are monitoring conditions inside the plant and in the area around the plant, and residents are asked to avoid the area. However, air monitoring outside the plant shows levels “well below the threshold for concern,” according to Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management.
Lineage Logistics released the following statement: "Earlier today, there was an ammonia release at our facility in Statesville, N.C., that resulted in the death of a Lineage Logistics sub-contractor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this individual. We are working in close coordination with local authorities and regulatory officials to conduct a full investigation. Lineage’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees, partners, and the communities in which we live and operate. We take compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations extremely seriously and will be working with all relevant agencies during our investigation. To ensure consistent and centralized communications during this process, we will work closely with local authorities and regulatory officials to provide further updates.”