Sunday, December 10, 2017

Electrician Ivan Murl Bridgewater, III, 41, from Seymour, Indiana, died from blunt force trauma at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, KY

Electrician Ivan Murl Bridgewater, III, 41, from Seymour, Indiana, died from blunt force trauma at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, KY


















The cause of death for a 41-year-old man killed at the Ford Truck Plant in Louisville has been identified.

While authorities speculated electrocution as the cause of death, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office said Wednesday the man died from blunt force trauma.

His death was ruled an accident.

The man was identified as Ivan Bridgewater, 41, from Seymour, Indiana, according to Jefferson County deputy coroner Steve Moran. He was an electrician at the plant, according to Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker.


Kentucky's Labor Cabinet began an investigation this week after an electrician was killed suddenly at the Ford truck plant in Louisville.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has 180 days to investigate the incident said Alex Englen, the deputy communications director for Kentucky's Labor Cabinet.

When officers arrived at the Kentucky Truck Plant just before 1 a.m., they found Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services and Ford security trying to resuscitate the man.


LMPD spokesman Dwight Mitchell said Bridgewater died from electric shock in a statement. Felker, however, said, "any previous speculation regarding his cause of death by the police or Ford is premature and inaccurate."

An obituary page set-up for Bridgewater said he previously worked for Impact Forge before joining the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant.

"He was so proud to become a union member at the KTP where he felt as though he was family with his co-workers," the obituary states. "He was a great mentor and always encouraging his younger co-workers and friends. Ivan was an inspiration to work with and he always smiled and had a positive attitude."

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Authorities are investigating the death of a man at a Ford truck plant in Kentucky.

Media outlets report that police responded to Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville just before 1 a.m. Saturday. Officers found emergency personnel and Ford security attempting to save the man.

Louisville police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said in a statement that the man died at the scene “as a result of electrical shock.”

WAVE-TV reports that the coroner’s office identified the man as 41-year-old Ivan Bridgewater, of Seymour, Indiana.

Kelli Felker, the manufacturing and labor communications manager at Ford, said in a statement that Ford is cooperating with the investigation.

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LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has confirmed the identity of the Ford plant worker killed early Saturday morning.

The victim was Ivan Bridgewater, 41, from Seymour, Indiana, the coroner's office said.

The cause of death is still pending.

Ford issued a statement on the death Saturday afternoon. The death happened early Saturday morning at their Kentucky Truck Plant.

The statement came from Kelli Felker, the Manufacturing and Labor Communications Manager at Ford:


We are deeply saddened by the death of an employee early this morning at Kentucky Truck Plant. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time.

We are cooperating with the investigation into the cause of death.

Louisville Metro Police are investigating after a man was killed at the Ford Truck Plant. Police originally said the worker was electrocuted, which we reported earlier. Ford has clarified that the worker was not electrocuted.

LMPD confirmed that shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday, they responded to a call of a person down at the Ford Plant on Chamberlain Lane. Officers arrived to find Ford Security and LMEMS administering CPR on a man.




The man died at the scene, LMPD said.

Ford has confirmed that the employee was an electrician.

Sources confirm to WAVE 3 News that the victim was working in the stamping department.

LMPD's Homicide Unit is investigating.




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UPDATE: Ford Plant Death, No Longer Thought To Be Electrocution, Investigated

Posted: Dec 09, 2017 3:20 PM EST



LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) — The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has confirmed the identity of the Ford plant worker killed early Saturday morning.

The victim was Ivan Bridgewater, 41, from Seymour, Indiana, the coroner's office said.

The cause of death is still pending.

Ford issued a statement on the death Saturday afternoon. The death happened early Saturday morning at their Kentucky Truck Plant.

The statement came from Kelli Felker, the Manufacturing and Labor Communications Manager at Ford: "We are deeply saddened by the death of an employee early this morning at Kentucky Truck Plant. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time. We are cooperating with the investigation into the cause of death."

Louisville Metro Police are investigating after a man was killed at the Ford Truck Plant. Police originally said the worker was electrocuted, which we reported earlier. Ford has clarified that the worker was not electrocuted.

LMPD confirmed that shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday, they responded to a call of a person down at the Ford Plant on Chamberlain Lane. Officers arrived to find Ford Security and LMEMS administering CPR on a man.


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Obituary for Ivan Murl Bridgewater III


Mr. Ivan M. Bridgewater, III, 41, of Seymour, passed away on December 9, 2017, at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky. 


He was born on November 6, 1976, in Seymour, the son of Ivan M. Bridgewater Jr and Debra J. (Kelly) Alexander. 


He formerly worked for Impact Forge before joining the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky.


He was so proud to become a union member at the KTP where he felt as though he was family with his co- workers. He was a great mentor and always encouraging his younger co-workers and friends. Ivan was an inspiration to work with and he always smiled and had a positive attitude.


He had a great love for his family and desire to be the best husband and father. He enjoyed the ocean, traveling, concerts, and gaming. He had a great respect for the history of his predecessors. 


After dating for five years, on October 8, 2012, he married the love of his life, Megan K. White, in Brown County state park in the Abe Martin Lodge Amphitheater. 


Ivan is survived by his lovely wife of five years, Megan, his son, Ivan M. Bridgewater IV; his mother; Debra Alexander and father; Ivan Bridgewater, Jr, stepmother, Diana Bridgewater; maternal grandmother, Leona Kelly; brother, David Bridgewater; sisters, Nicolette Banks, and Carina (Brad) Cole; two sisters-in law, Chrystal Lesage, and Kasey White; Father and Mother-in-law Kelsie White, Sr and Barbara (Fraley). He has six nieces; Lacey Mousa, Jasmine Banks, Deja Banks, Taylor Cole, Brooklyn Cole and Brooklyn Reynolds, and three nephews; Jeffery Cole, Kyle Hileman and Brenden Imlay.


Family and friends may gather at Voss and Sons Funeral Service on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 4 to 7 p.m. and from 12 noon until time of the Life Celebration service on Wednesday. 


A Life Celebration service will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Voss and Sons Funeral Service. 


Memorial checks may be written to the family.