Description
24 workers and a delivery man died when hydraulic fluid from a conveyor belt under repair sprayed over a gas-fired chicken fryer. The incident caused a fireball, which filled the plant with smoke. In addition to fatalities, the incident caused 56 workers to sustain injuries and left over 150 workers without jobs due to the plant's closure. State officials found after the incident that the plant had no sprinklers or fire alarm and place. Further, exits were not properly marked and doors were locked when the fire broke out. The state OSH agency had not inspected the plant in the previous 11 years.
Prosecutors:
Assistant District Attorney David Graham
Incident Type: Fire
County: Rockingham
State: NC
Date: Sept. 3, 1991
Additional Materials
Folder for Imperial Food Products materials
Available Case Materials Include:
Media Clips & Gov't. Press
Contact for Additional Information:
Unavailable
Victims
| First |
Last |
Age |
Title |
Employer |
Injury Type |
|
Info unavailable |
Info unavailable |
Info unavailable |
Imperial Food Products Inc. |
Fatality |
|
Info unavailable |
Info unavailable |
Delivery man |
Info unavailable |
Fatality |
Defendants
| Name |
Type |
Title |
Plea Info. |
Conviction Sentence |
| Emmett J. Roe |
Individual |
Owner |
Pleaded guilty to 25 counts of involuntary manslaughter |
Sentenced to serve 19 years, 11 months in prison. Could receive parole before full sentence served. In exchange for his guilty plea, the state dropped charges against plant managers James Hair and Brad Roe. |
|
Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: Involuntary Manslaughter (25 counts)
|
|
| James N. Hair |
Individual |
Plant Manager |
None |
In exchange for the owner, Emmett Roe's, guilty plea, the state dropped charges against plant managers James Hair and Brad Roe. |
|
Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: Involuntary Manslaughter (25 counts)
|
Other Crimes: None
|
| Brad M. Roe |
Individual |
Plant Manager |
None |
In exchange for the owner, Emmett Roe's, guilty plea, the state dropped charges against plant managers James Hair and Brad Roe. |
|
Crimes Charged: |
Penal Crimes: Involuntary Manslaughter (25\r\n counts)
|
Other Crimes: None
|