Kentucky power plant workers who died Tuesday 'likely' killed by fumes, coroner says

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Friends of two workers killed near a Western Kentucky power plant Tuesday described the men as dedicated husbands and fathers.

The men, 34-year-old Eric Williams and 39-year-old Phillip Hill, hailed from Henderson and Greenville, Kentucky, respectively. Both men led rich lives outside of work, filled with hobbies and family functions.

While a final autopsy report from the Henderson County Coroner's Office hasn't officially been completed, Deputy Coroner Ron Adams said it's likely Williams and Hill died from inhaling sulfuric acid fumes when they fell into the confined space.

Adams said the fall itself wasn't fatal.

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A spokesperson with Big Rivers Electric Corporation said the company would not comment as the "incident is still under investigation."

Hill worked as an engineer for Big Rivers Electric Corporation, while Williams was a heavy equipment operator with Charah Solutions.

Phillip Hill's passion was racing

Hill had a passion for stock car and dirt track racing, friends said, and his driving talents were on display at oval tracks across Kentucky and Tennessee, including the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

Donnie Redd, who does timing and scoring for the speedway and has known Hill since his birth, said Hill raced in a 50-lap, pro-class race the Saturday before his death.

"Phil was an all-American man from the 'family next door' that would give you the shirt off his back," Redd said. "He comes from a racing family. Him and his dad would spend all night in the shop working on those cars."

Hill is survived by his wife, April Hill; sons, Hayden and Cayson Hill; father, Michael Hill; and sister, Crystal (Michael) Woodruff.

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Together with his dad, he started operating the Phil Hill Racing team a couple of years ago, according to Redd. The team was operated on a tighter budget than many racing outlets, but that was part of the charm, Redd said.

"It was just pure racing and doing it because they loved it," Redd said. "I always liked to shoutout that Western Kentucky had a team at Nashville."

Mike Curran, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, raced with Hill, and said the pair became friends despite getting into a wreck they had on the track in 2021.

"The racing community is like one big, extended family," Curran said. "He always had a positive attitude and a smile on his face."

Scores of friends, acquaintances and coworkers voiced similar sentiments online.

Hugh Tyler, a makeup artist based in St. Louis, attended Muhlenberg South Middle and High schools with Phil. For Tyler, who said he was bullied in school, Phil was a beacon of friendliness.

"I was picked on a lot in school, but he was always super nice to me," Tyler said. "Just a gentle giant, a totally wonderful guy."

Eric Williams loved the outdoors

Eric Williams had been a heavy-machinery operator for Charah Solutions for more than 10 years, according to his Facebook page. A resident of Henderson, Williams was originally from New Harmony, Indiana, and had attended Vincennes University.

Described as a "huge outdoorsman" in his obituary, Williams was an avid hunter and trapper. People who knew him nicknamed him "Mr. Fix It," because he was good at repairing things and because he had an "uncanny" intuition for knowing what others nedded.

Williams was married and had two sons. He also had a sister and two brothers who all live in Evansville.

"He loved his boys and was an excellent father," his obituary stated.

Williams' funeral service is at 11 a.m. on Monday at Benton-Glunt & Tapp Funeral Home in Henderson and will be buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in New Harmony.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com with story ideas and questions. Twitter: @houston_whh 

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Kentucky power plant victims Eric Williams and Phillip Hill remembered