A Stellantis worker was killed by a robotic arm at the company's Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan last year, according to a lawsuit filed by his widow. Ronald Adams, 63, was working on machinery during a plant retooling when he became pinned between a robotic arm and a conveyor.
Adams, an Air Force veteran and experienced mechanic, was reportedly working on a large industrial chamber washer that cleans engine parts. A robotic arm is used to bring components to and from this washer. According to court documents, two coworkers left Adams alone to work on the machinery. When one returned minutes later, Adams was found pinned. Paramedics and an on-site electrician were called to lift the robotic arm, but Adams was pronounced dead at a hospital later that day. The medical examiner ruled his death was caused by catastrophic crushing injuries and traumatic asphyxia.
The lawsuit, filed by Shamenia Stewart-Adams, alleges that a lack of safety guards and safe work practices contributed to the incident. It claims that a safety mechanism for the washer was "electronically bypassed" with a special key, allowing Adams to work on the machinery while it was not in the correct work-safe mode. Fives Cinetic, the supplier of the washer, reportedly stated in its response that the accident would not have occurred if Stellantis had followed safe work practices.
Further complicating the circumstances, a worker reportedly raised an issue with the robotic system two days before Adams' death, noting that it would move while in "dry run" mode. An attorney for Adams' estate stated there is no evidence to suggest Adams was the one who disabled the robot's safety features.
Stellantis lawyers moved to dismiss the case earlier this year, but the motion was denied by Judge Catherine Heise.
Adams is one of three Stellantis workers in the U.S. to have died in industrial incidents over the past two years. In August 2024, Antonio Gaston, 53, died in Toledo, Ohio, after being caught on a piece of equipment. In an incident earlier this month, James Brasher, 57, died instantly after falling from a second-story loading bay at a former Mopar office.
All three men were members of the United Auto Workers union. Gaston's widow has also filed a lawsuit, claiming the conveyor system involved lacked necessary safety equipment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated Gaston's death, ruling he reached across a conveyor belt and issuing a "serious violation" for machine guarding. Stellantis contested a fine, eventually settling for approximately $11,000.
OSHA is currently investigating Brasher's death, and a probe into Adams' death is also ongoing.
A Stellantis spokesperson stated that employee safety is a priority, and the company regularly evaluates and strengthens its internal standards and protocols to protect employees. They added that Stellantis continues to enhance workplace safety and ensure all sites meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
