A 48-year-old male FedEx employee died Wednesday after a “two-vehicle accident” at the FedEx World Center, according to Memphis Police Department and airport officials.
Memphis International Airport public information officer Glen Thomas said the Memphis Airport Police Department responded to the Memphis hub at around 2:40 p.m. Wednesday and police were informed that two passengers had been taken to a local hospital by paramedics.
The MPD has taken over the investigation. MPD public information officer Theresa Carlson said officials responded to Methodist South Hospital at around 6 p.m. that one of the FedEx employees had died. Carlson said the employee was shipped in from the Memphis hub at 2810 Democrat Way.
Memphis Fire Department spokeswoman Qwanesha Ward said the department responded to “two incidents” at the FedEx World Hub. She said one of the calls was a “medical emergency”.
FedEx issued the following statement on Wednesday: “We can confirm the passing of a team member this afternoon and are deeply saddened. Our thoughts are with the team member’s family, colleagues, and all those affected by this incident. This tragic incident The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation, and FedEx is cooperating fully with investigating authorities.”
FedEx did not release the employee’s identity or provide any other details about the incident.
On Friday, FedEx issued a supplemental statement: “Additional employees are involved. We are focused on their well-being and supporting them as they recover from this incident at home.”
FedEx spokeswoman Heather Wilson would not specify how many employees were involved in the accident, but said the company’s “top priority” was the safety of team members.
The MPD said it was an ongoing investigation.
FedEx notified the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the death on Wednesday, said Chris Cannon, chief communications officer for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
“TOSHA investigators are currently reviewing the circumstances at the facility that led to the worker’s death,” Cannon said. “As part of its investigation, TOSHA typically investigates the location of the incident, reviews company records and procedures, and then conducts interviews with management and employees.”
Cannon said the investigation could take about eight to 10 weeks and that TOSHA would not release preliminary information “to ensure the integrity of the investigation.”
After the survey is complete, Tennessee residents can view the agency’s findings.
FedEx employee dies
The employee is the seventh FedEx employee to die on the job in the Memphis area since 2014 and the third this year.
Most recently, a FedEx employee died on May 1 while working at Olive Branch. This follows the death of 33-year-old FedEx World Hub employee Jessica James on February 18 while operating a forklift.
In July 2014, 19-year-old Chandler Warren was crushed to death by a giant freight elevator. In 2015, Christopher Higginbottom, a 39-year-old cargo tugboat operator, was crushed to death by a fully loaded trolley he was towing after falling from the tugboat he was driving, and then by another fully loaded trolley die.
In November 2017, Ellen Gladney was found crushed to death by an electric moving conveyor system at the company’s main hub.
Duntate Young, 23, died in November 2019 after his leg became caught in the curtain door of a shipping container in the centre. Yang was dragged several feet before his chest “hit the side of the middle roller,” according to a Memphis International Airport police report.
Business Appellate reporter Micaela Watts contributed to this report.
Dima Amro covers the suburbs of The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.Amro@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @AmroDima.
