Duvan Tomas Perez

via Facebook

By Laura Strickler and Didi Martinez

A 16-year-old boy from Guatemala died as a result of an on-the-job accident at a poultry plant in Mississippi, authorities said Tuesday.

It happened at about 8 p.m. on July 14 at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Forrest County deputy coroner Lisa Klem said.

Workers under the age of 18 are not allowed to work in poultry plants because it’s deemed to be too dangerous and therefore a violation of child labor laws. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division have launched investigations into the incident, a spokesperson said. Any company found to be in violation could face a federal fine of more than $30,000 per incident. The death was caused by equipment at the plant, Klem said, adding that the results of an autopsy will be released Wednesday.

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* No, the death was caused by the company that permitted child labor. 

A worker who was on duty at the time of the accident spoke of hearing the boy screaming for help, but it was already too late. 

“Two times he began to scream, ‘Help! Help!’” the worker said.

“I knew he had died,” the worker added.

The victim, identified by local authorities and a family member as Duvan Tomas Perez, was a middle school student who arrived in this country from the town of Huispache about six years ago.

“We’re very sad,” said the relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they face a pending immigration issue. “He was generous, smiley and very fun and very responsible at work.”

Joe Colee, the manager of the Mar-Jac facility, said in a statement that “our employees are our most valuable asset and safety is our number one priority."

"We strive daily to work as safely as possible and are truly devastated whenever an employee is injured," he added.