Woman falls into meat grinder, dies at processing plant

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A Pennsylvania woman was killed this week in what is believed to be a workplace accident when she fell into a meat grinder at a processing plant, authorities say.

Jill Greninger, 35, was working at Economy Locker Storage Company in Pennsdale when she either fell or was pulled into the meat grinder while on a staircase next to the machine, Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said in statement.

"This was a horrible accident," he told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Kiessling told the newspaper that no one saw the accident occur. "We don’t know if she fell in or was pulled in as she was perhaps reaching for something in the grinder, which was about 6 feet off the ground," he added.

Officials believe the accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Monday. Fire and emergency medical personnel responded and disassembled the machine, which took more than two hours before the woman's body was removed, the coroner said.

Another employee heard noises coming from the meat grinder and called for help when they found the woman, the Sun-Gazette reported.