EAGLE GROVE — A workplace accident at a Wright County pork plant that resulted in the death of a Fort Dodge man remains under investigation by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

On Sept. 10, Jeffrey Leonardi, 57, was killed after he was struck in the head by a swing arm, according to reports filed with OSHA. The accident occurred while Leonardi was working the third shift at Prestage Foods of Iowa, a 700,000-square-foot slaughter facility five miles south of Eagle Grove.

Prestage has the capacity to move more than 8,000 pigs through the plant per day. Over 800 people are employed at the facility.

At the time of the accident, Leonardi was performing routine maintenance duties, Prestage officials reported.

Leonardi was a mechanic who had been with the company since the plant opened in March 2019.

Jere Null, Prestage CEO, said the company is offering Iowa OSHA its full cooperation, and is also conducting an internal investigation.

There is no timetable for when OSHA’s investigation will be completed.

Leonardi is the second employee to die at the plant this year. On Feb. 16, Wayne Smith, 50, of Fort Dodge, was found dead in an employee locker room. Investigators said his throat had been cut.

Lukouxs Brown, 26, of Fort Dodge, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Smith’s death.