The family of Johnny Peterson, a Tennessee employee who tragically died in the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his employer, Impact Plastics.
The lawsuit claims that company managers failed to evacuate workers in a timely manner, despite knowing the increasing dangers posed by the storm.
According to the suit, the company prioritized meeting order deadlines over the safety of its employees, even as local businesses and schools closed due to the hurricane.
Peterson, along with other employees, remained at the plant in Erwin, Tennessee, as water began flooding the facility’s parking lot and eventually cut power. Despite repeated requests to leave, the suit claims that workers were only dismissed when conditions had become too dangerous to escape safely.
The flooding ultimately swept away 11 workers, with only five survivors. Two employees, including Peterson, have been confirmed dead, and four remain missing.
The lawsuit details Peterson’s final moments, including text messages to his family expressing his fear that he wouldn’t survive. He attempted to help other employees but became trapped himself as floodwaters made escape impossible.
At one point, Peterson climbed onto a semi-trailer in a desperate attempt to avoid the rising water. His last messages to his daughter and father were filled with fear and love, sent just minutes before he was swept away.
The suit accuses Impact Plastics and its owner, Gerald O’Connor, of negligence, alleging that management was aware of the flood risks but failed to implement an evacuation plan, even though the plant was in a flood-prone area.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the state’s workplace safety office have both launched investigations into the incident.
In response, Impact Plastics claims that it monitored weather conditions and dismissed employees when the parking lot began to flood, asserting that no one was forced to stay.
However, Peterson’s family argues that the company acted too late, and they are seeking accountability for what they believe was a preventable tragedy.