A USPS worker died after he became stuck inside a mail handling machine at a distribution center in Allen Park, Michigan.
Authorities identified the worker as 36-year-old Nicolas John Acker, who was reportedly stuck inside the machine for approximately six to eight hours before being discovered on Saturday at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center, according to FOX News. Acker worked as a maintenance employee and was engaged to Stephanie Jascz, who told reporters she waited outside the facility for hours before contacting authorities.
“That’s what we want to know. We want to know how he even ended up there, and why doesn’t anybody know where he was at?” she explained to WDIV.
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Worker Trapped for Hours Inside Sorting Machine
According to investigators, Acker was last seen working near the mail sorting and weighing machines, which process letters and packages of various sizes throughout the day. Authorities believe Acker became trapped inside one of the machines sometime overnight, though it remains unclear how long he was inside before being found.
Stephanie Jascz, his fiancée, said she became worried after not hearing from him and waited outside the center for several hours before alerting police. Investigators described his death as accidental, but they are still working to determine what led up to the incident and whether proper safety protocols were followed.
USPS Releases Statement Following Tragic Incident
The U.S. Postal Service issued a statement following Acker’s death, expressing condolences to his family and confirming that operations at the distribution center remain active. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. The NDC is fully operational at this time,” the statement reads.
The USPS did not immediately provide additional details about the incident, including whether the machine had malfunctioned or if safety inspections had been performed prior to the accident.