ALBURTIS, Pa. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania say one of the two people injured in a fire at a pipe manufacturing plant has died.
Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim says 37-year-old Bridgette Geist of Walnutport died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. An autopsy Friday concluded that her death was accidental.
Officials said fire erupted after a furnace burst at about 8:30 a.m. Monday at Victaulic Co. in Lower Macungie Township, just outside Allentown.
Jerry Green, president of the Steelworkers of America Local 2599, says Geist started working at the plant right out of high school. Another man remains hospitalized with injuries from the accident but Green says he is improving.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating. Company spokesman Eric Luftig says production will not resume until the company is sure the plant is safe.
