Gastonia man dies in wood chipper accident

A Gastonia man died Saturday after police say he was pulled into a wood chipper in Kings Mountain.

Mason Scott Cox, 19, was pronounced dead on the scene after police were sent to a Hawthorne Road home about a man who had been pulled into the wood chipper, according to a Kings Mountain Police news release.

The machinery is commonly used to reduce wood into smaller chips.

Police determined that Cox’s death was accidental and no foul play was suspected.

WBTV, the Observer’s news partner, reported that Cox was working at a new job, the Belmont-based Crawford Tree Service, when the accident happened. The N.C. Department of Labor has opened an investigation to determine if any safety and health standards were violated, a spokeswoman confirmed.

John Crawford, who owns the tree business, said Cox was a subcontractor

Crawford said he employed Cox’s cousin, who asked if Cox could help them with a job on Saturday to make a few extra bucks.

Though reluctant, Crawford agreed.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Gastonia man dies in wood chipper accident."