RISON - Brent Wilkins, 43, of the Rowell community, died in what was described as an "industrial accident" last Thursday afternoon, April 11, outside of McNeil, according to a press release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Department.The sheriff's department reported that the accident occurred as Union Pacific work crews were repairing a washout area along the railroad tracks near Hwy. 98 about two miles east of the Hwy. 79 intersection near McNeil, which is located north of Magnolia. Columbia County Sheriff Leroy Martin reported that Wilkins was "struck and killed by machinery." Media reports said the sheriff's department responded to the scene at about 6:50 p.m. last Thursday.After emergency crews responded, Columbia County Coroner Randy Reed pronounced Wilkins deceased. Because of incident being classified as an industrial accident, the sheriff's department reported that Wilkins' body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for examination.Investigators from Union Pacific Railroad, the Arkansas State Police, and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office are investigating the accident, the sheriff's department stated.
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