CLAYCOMO, Mo. – Ford Motor Company officials confirmed a person died Tuesday in an accident at their Claycomo plant.

People who work at the plant say mostly out-of-state contractors are currently working on-sight getting the plant ready for the new line of Fords.

No one FOX 4 spoke to Tuesday would go on camera, but several people say the millworker was a contract worker from Illinois, and was to be part of a retooling effort with the plant, idled for the holidays and changeover.

The victim was said to be killed working on the F-150 retooling while working on the decker, also referred to as the body marriage machine. That machine places the body of the truck on to the frame so it can be brought to the main line. Sources say a safety rod broke on that decker and crushed the worker.

FOX 4 contacted the Ford Motor company with a request to talk to someone about this incident and received the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened as a Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant worker passed away this morning due to an occupational incident. The safety and security of our team members always is our number one priority. We are launching a full investigation into this matter.”

Several of the workers FOX 4 spoke to Tuesday say that this is not the first time that machine has broken, and say they were worried something like this was going to happen.