Security guard dies after being pinched between trailers at Morristown Koch Foods plant, police reports say

The cause of death of a Koch Foods employee in Morristown was determined by police, according to reports obtained by WVLT.
Published: Oct. 23, 2026 at 3:37 PM EDT|Updated: 30 minutes ago

What This Story Is About

  • A man was pinned between two trailers while working at Koch Foods in Morristown. He died due to the incident, according to police reports.

Why It Matters

  • Employee deaths that happen while at their place of work cause for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led up to the incident.

For Context

  • TOSHA has also started an investigation that will determine the circumstances that led to the workplace fatality, which can take about six months.

Catch Up

HAMBLEN CO., Tenn. (WVLT) - Details regarding the death of a Morristown Koch Foods employee have been released by police following Thursday’s incident.

Reports say a collision between two trailers killed the employee just after midnight on Oct. 22 in the loading dock lot at 1620 Progress Parkway.

The report identified the pedestrian who was struck as 54-year-old Arlie Ray Russell. Reports say Russell was working as a security guard at the time.

Russell was checking paperwork and preparing to place seals on the trailer when he was caught between the two trailers, details in the report say.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are still currently being investigated, TOSHA says.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are still currently being investigated, TOSHA says.(WVLT, Morristown PD)

Police officials in Morristown note that it was when a 31-year-old driver was backing her trailer into a loading bay and did not see Russell standing at the rear of a second parked trailer, which was driven by a 54-year-old woman.

The first driver was cited for improper backing. Both drivers were not hurt.

State workplace safety officials with TOSHA say they are investigating the death, which can take up to six months.

Additional details have not been released at this time.

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