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(The following article by Art Aisner was posted on the Ann Arbor News website on September 21.)

SALINE, Mich. — A railroad employee was killed in Saline on Monday when he was pinned between an engine and a rail car near the Visteon plant.

Charles Hatch Jr., 46, of Toledo, was crushed about 2:30 p.m. along tracks that run behind the Michigan Avenue plant, police and fire officials said.

Saline Fire Chief Craig Hoeft said the victim was lodged between the engine and the car when firefighters and Visteon employees arrived at the scene. Firefighters asked Hatch’s co-worker to move the engine enough to free the man’s body, but there was no pulse when they and Huron Valley Ambulance paramedics tried to resuscitate him.

Saline Police Chief Paul Bunten said the investigation was ongoing but the death appeared to be an accident.

Hatch, an employee of the Ann Arbor Railroad, was on a train loaded with auto parts headed to the plant, Bunten said. It appeared he was trying to uncouple the train cars when the accident occurred, he added.

A woman who answered the phone this morning at the railroad’s office in Howell said the company had no comment.

The Visteon plant remained open Monday; however, the rail yard and loading docks were closed as part of the investigation.

Officials with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration were notified Monday and are investigating.