Originally published Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Glass plant worker suffered severed artery

TUMWATER — The Thurston County coroner says a 23-year-old worker who died at a glass plant in Tumwater fell against a pane of glass and severed an artery in his neck.

By The Associated Press

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TUMWATER — The Thurston County coroner says a 23-year-old worker who died at a glass plant in Tumwater fell against a pane of glass and severed an artery in his neck.

The man was 23-year-old Christopher Benson of Lacey.

Coroner Gary Warnock says Benson tripped on the plant floor about 2:30 a.m. on Monday and his neck hit the edge of a pane of glass that was coming off the line. The glass was lying flat.

Warnock says the glass severed Benson's left carotid artery, one of the main arteries that delivers oxygenated blood to the brain.

Employees found Benson on the plant's floor and paramedics say Benson died at the scene.

The state Department of Labor and Industries says it has started an investigation to determine whether Cardinal Coated Glass was complying with safety regulations.

Benson had worked at the company for two years and was the father of a 3-year-old son.

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