Eastman spokeswoman Kristin Parker and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatality. In a statement, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded just after 9 a.m. after getting a call regarding “a fatality accident at Eastman Chemical involving a crane.”
“We are deeply saddened by this loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time,” Parker said.
Upon arrival, deputies found the worker who had died and began documenting the scene and collecting statements from witnesses, according to the statement.
The sheriff’s office said the worker was a contract employee for Joyce Crane.
“Today, an employee of Joyce Crane was working at an Eastman site in Longview, Texas, when he was involved in a crane accident,” Parker said.
“The preliminary investigation indicates this is a horrible accident,” Harrison County Sheriff B.J. Fletcher said in a statement.
Eastman Chemical’s local plant is just outside the city limits, in Harrison County, off Estes Parkway. It is Longview’s largest industrial employer with 1,500 employees. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Longview, Joyce Crane has a staff of “over 160 professionals,” according to its website.