Tragic Death of Truck Driver at Goshen Plant

GOSHEN — A truck driver lost his life during a delivery at Lippert Components after being struck by a massive 5,000-pound bundle of steel.

The deceased, Milos Jovanovic, 36, hailing from Naperville, Illinois, was employed by a Chicago-based trucking company, according to Polly Hoover, a public information officer for the Goshen Police Department, who spoke to The Tribune on February 6. Police confirmed that he was fatally injured when the heavy steel tubing fell on him.

The incident occurred at Plant 45 on February 5 during the offloading of steel from Jovanovic’s semi truck. Authorities did not clarify whether Jovanovic, Lippert employees, or both were involved in unloading the materials. It is noted that Plant 45 was inspected in August 2023 due to health concerns.

Emergency Response

Emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene shortly after 9:40 a.m. to attend to Jovanovic. The Goshen Police arrived 45 minutes later, but by that time, he had already been transported to the airfield for Med Flight, as stated by the police. Hoover explained that police are typically not called for medical emergencies unless requested by medics.

“The police are generally not contacted for medical emergencies unless the Medics request us,” she communicated via email.

Response and Safety Concerns

Despite paramedics administering life-saving treatments, Jovanovic was declared dead upon arrival at the airfield, the police reported.

A reporter for The Tribune reached out to Lippert’s public relations department to inquire about safety measures for unloading materials but did not receive a reply by Friday afternoon.

Records from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reveal that Lippert Components has faced five inspections with five resulting violations since 2020, primarily concerning health and safety issues in the Mishawaka, Goshen, and Yoder areas. Additionally, after a 2020 inspection at Plant 228G in Goshen, the facility incurred a $10,000 penalty for two violations.

To contact the Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia, email at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article was originally published in the South Bend Tribune: Workplace accident claims life of truck driver at Goshen plant.