The man killed at Toledo Jeep was a father of four and a former Belvidere worker

Authorities have identified the man killed in a workplace accident at the Jeep plant in Toledo on Wednesday afternoon as 53-year-old Antonio Gaston.

The driver, who lives in Toledo, was working Wednesday afternoon at Stellantis NV's Toledo Assembly Complex plant, where Gladiator pickups are built, when the incident occurred, police said. United Auto Workers union officials said Gaston, a father of four who previously worked in Belvidere, Illinois, was doing his usual job there as a materials worker, delivering parts to the assembly line for others to install in the vehicles.

He got stuck somewhere and was crushed, officials said, but the exact cause was still unclear Thursday afternoon.

“We need a full and thorough investigation,” said Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, which represents workers at the plant.

Baumhower said he did not want to go into further detail because there are conflicting reports about what led to the fatal accident. He added that the company, the union and federal safety investigators are looking into the case.

Authorities arrived at the plant, located at 4400 Chrysler Drive in North Toledo, around 1:30 p.m. Later that afternoon, investigators from the police, local fire department, Lucas County coroner's office and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's compliance office arrived on scene.

The complex, which employs more than 4,600 people, builds both the Gladiator and Wrangler SUVs. Gladiator production was halted Thursday, but the plant's Wrangler production continued as normal after the fatal accident, said Ann Marie Fortunate, a spokeswoman for Stellantis. There are counselors at the plant to support employees, she said.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of the Toledo Assembly Complex employee who was involved in a fatal workplace accident yesterday,” Stellantis said in a statement. “We will continue to work with authorities to investigate the cause of the accident.”

The company declined to provide further details about the nature of the incident that led to Gaston's death.

A GoFundMe page to support Gaston's family said he leaves behind his wife and four children. As of late Thursday afternoon, more than $16,000 had been raised.

Gaston moved to Toledo after the company closed its main plant in Belvidere, Illinois, UAW officials said, and the rest of his family recently joined him. He was with the company for about 12 years.

“The memories we all have of 'Tone' are brightened by his constant smile and cheerful disposition,” wrote Tru Parham, a Jeep union representative, on the fundraising page. “We work to provide for our families and tragically our late brother did not make it home to his.”

Gladiator production was largely halted in July and August due to declining sales and retooling at the plant, but workers resumed production of the pickup earlier this week. Baumhower said he expects Gladiator production to pause on Friday as well.

“Everyone I've talked to says he's the nicest (guy) they've ever worked with,” the union leader said. “He just lifts the spirits because no matter how bad you feel when you come in here after a rough night or something, he puts a smile on everyone's face.”

Matt Frantzen, president of Local 1268, the union that represents the Belvidere assembly plant where Gaston previously worked, said during a rally in the Illinois city on Thursday that Gaston “followed his job” after it was eliminated in Belvidere.

The Belvidere plant, which most recently built the Jeep Cherokee, was scheduled to close in early 2023. The union is urging Stellantis to keep its promise and reopen the plant, which was the focus of the rally.

“(Gaston) pursued his American dream so he could keep working until things got better here,” Frantzen said.

“You know, the fight we're having here to try to reopen, to get these people home – all I was thinking last night was, 'This wouldn't have happened if he had been here,'” the Illinois union official said through tears.

Kevin Gotinsky, head of the UAW's Stellantis division, also commented on the tragedy on Thursday.

“These tragedies should not be happening in our plants,” he said. “They are preventable. No one should ever lose their life on the way to work and not have the opportunity to return to their families… We must hold these companies accountable for all health and safety complaints, issues and concerns.”

Baumhower said much of the plant's workforce was devastated by Thursday's news, noting that there have been only a handful of deaths at Toledo Jeep in his more than 30 years leading the union.

“We need to know how this happened so it doesn't happen again,” he said. “I'm really excited to see what this full investigation reveals, because I'm getting conflicting reports.”

[email protected]

@lramseth