McCormick man, 63, dead after falling into industrial woodchipper in Columbia County

Alexandra Koch, Augusta Chronicle
·1 min read

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a worker at Pollard Lumber Company in Appling fell into an industrial woodchipper and died Monday afternoon.

Ralph Pickens, 63, of McCormick, South Carolina, "enter[ed] an industrial conveyor wood chipper" at the company's Washington Road location, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Authorities confirmed Pickens has been pronounced dead.

The sheriff's office's Criminal Investigation Division was on scene Monday evening, according to the release. Crime scene investigators were also on scene.

The CID will provide more information when it is available, according to the sheriff's office.

Richmond, Burke county sheriffs feud: Burke County sheriff says Richmond County sheriff refused help in missing persons case

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Man dead after falling into industrial woodchipper in Columbia County