
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 29, 1994                    TAG: 9406290363 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: SMITHFIELD 
DATELINE: 940629                                 LENGTH: Short

TRACTOR CRUSHES DOCK WORKER

{LEAD} A 23-year-old Newport News man was in serious condition Tuesday at Riverside Regional Medical Center after he was crushed between a tractor and the loading dock at Gwaltney meat packing plant on Monday.

William John Kerr, a dock worker at Gwaltney of Smithfield Ltd., was working on the dock about 4:25p.m. Monday when a tractor used to move other vehicles crushed his head and upper chest against the loading dock, Smithfield Police Lt. Phil Hardison said.

{REST} Hardison said further details on the accident were not available.

Company officials refused to comment Tuesday on the accident. The name of the worker driving the tractor has not been released by the company.

Hardison said plant officials were investigating the accident and no criminal investigation will be conducted.

{KEYWORDS} ACCIDENT GENERAL INJURIES

by CNB