Man killed in Tiverton industrial incident

Posted: Oct 7, 2022 / 05:22 PM EDT

Updated: Oct 8, 2022 / 02:41 PM EDT

TIVERTON, R.I. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after a Providence man was killed while working in a Tiverton quarry Friday morning.

The incident took place at Tiverton Materials, a company that supplies construction materials, according to authorities.

First responders arrived at the Fish Road facility to find the victim, identified by police as Selvin Martin Ovando Gamez, 29, laying on the ground unresponsive.

#BREAKING: Tiverton police say Selvin Martin Ovando Gamez, 29, of Providence, was killed while working on a machine at the Tiverton Materials quarry this morning.

Gamez was on top of a machine that separates sand from gravel when he fell in. @MSHA_DOL is investigating. @wpri12 pic.twitter.com/N0ugaDZDsb
— Amanda Pitts (@AmandaPittsTV) October 7, 2022

Ovando Gamez was rushed to Saint Anne’s Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

An investigation revealed Ovando Gamez had been performing routine maintenance on a machine used to separate sand from gravel when it became clogged.

Ovando Gamez fell into the machine while attempting to unclog it, according to police, and was pulled out of it by those working nearby.

“It’s very tragic,” Tiverton Police Captain Michael Miquel said. “It was obviously very traumatic for those workers there.”

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is actively investigating the incident.

In a statement, Tiverton Materials said, “Our heartfelt thoughts, condolences and prayers go out to the loved ones of the J.R Vinagro Corporation employee who lost his life yesterday. Tiverton Materials remains committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its employees and service providers.”