Deadly accident leaves horrifying memory at Club Car plant
EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Authorities are shedding light on how a young woman died after getting caught in the machinery at a local factory – a tragic moment that a co-worker can’t stop replaying in her head.
Contract worker Alyssa Drinkard, 21, of Grovetown, died after getting pinned under a conveyor at the Club Car plant at 4125 Washington Road, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
It was a horrifying series of events for a co-worker who saw it all unfold and tried to help.
Through tears, the co-worker told News 12 that leading up to the freak accident, it was a normal day.
Drinkard came in with a smile as she always does.
Around 9:40 p.m. Friday, Drinkard dropped her Airpods below the conveyor and then got underneath to retrieve them, according to a deputy’s report.
But she got caught by the chain that moves the conveyor.
MORE FROM NEWS 12:
ATV accident kills Washington County High School 15-year-old
In a letter to parents, the Washington County Public School District said 15-year-old Tyson Tillman “made a significant impact on the school community.”
Augustan convicted of beating mom’s 61-year-old boyfriend to death
Defendant Andrez Kirkland, 38, of Augusta, was convicted by a jury of his peers this week after a trial that began March 4 and ended late Monday.
AU student’s slaying has taken center stage in presidential race
The slaying of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley has become further cemented as a political rallying point in the 2024 presidential race.
Family sues over teacher’s death by falling power pole in Wagener
The family of 31-year-old Jeunelle Robinson held a news conference Monday in Bamberg to announce a lawsuit against Dominion Energy and PBT Telecom.
The co-worker tried to get Drinkard out but couldn’t, so she called for maintenance to shut the machine down, according to the deputy.
Once the machine stopped, workers started taking it apart and called 911.
A deputy, emergency medical crews and firefighters soon arrived.
They managed to free Drinkard by cutting the metal frame from around the conveyor.
Drinkard hadn’t appeared to be breathing, but rescuers found a pulse and started performing lifesaving efforts.
But she was later pronounced dead at Doctors Hospital.
The co-worker tearfully recounted it all on Tuesday, saying she can’t stop reliving it.
But she’ll always Drinkard as someone who was always so kind, quiet and the sweetest friend.
A large American flag flew at half-staff Tuesday in front of the Augusta-based company that makes electric golf carts and other small vehicles.
“Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with the family, friends and all impacted by this loss,” the company said in a statement. “We are working with authorities and the contractor in an investigation to determine the facts about what led to the incident.”
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
