Johnny Peterson impersonates co-workers as Impact Plastics bosses flee

As floodwaters threatened Impact Plastics on September 27, top leaders rushed out of the Erwin, Tennessee, manufacturing facility with important documents in hand.

At the same time, floor manager Johnny Peterson was running through the building to help other employees out. According to the wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family.

Peterson was stranded on the rising and raging Nolichucky River with a group that included his colleagues; they were all clinging to the cargo on a semitrailer in a nearby parking lot.

They were all swept away in the disaster caused when Hurricane Helene made landfall last month and flooded the mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina.

Peterson and four co-workers were killed. One is still missing.

Peterson, 55, worked at the plant for more than 35 years, shortly after it opened. In the lawsuit filed by his family, his claim that the company would not allow the employees to leave was also voiced by other employees.

Also included in the internal review of the tragic day that the company made public on October 3 are several allegations that contradict the narrative, including whether employees remained in the building when senior management was evacuated.

Case: Not all Impact Plastics employees left when leadership left

The company stated in its report that the facility was closed and employees were dismissed after the power cut at 10.39.

“Employees were instructed to leave the factory within a few minutes of the power outage and certainly by 10:50 a.m. at the latest,” the report states.

The company said senior management left “around 11:35” in the morning and were the last people to leave; however, the report notes that some employees were standing outside on South Industrial Drive, the only way in and out of the Riverside Industrial Park, which is adjacent to the facility. Nolichucky River.

However, the lawsuit claimed that Peterson did not leave at those hectic moments and that there were still employees inside the building.

“After being laid off, Johnny returned to the factory to help other employees who were trapped in the factory,” the lawsuit states. “While he was looking for others, he sent photos of the flooded recreation room to (his daughter) Alexa Peterson.”

The decision to save his colleagues was a vital one.

At 11:42 a.m., Peterson texted his daughter again. He was stuck, “can’t get out,” he wrote, “and went up so fast.”

An attorney representing Impact Plastics founder and chairman Gerald O’Connor did not respond to Knox News’ request for comment.

Peterson’s family filed a lawsuit against Impact Plastics in Unicoi County on Oct. 14.

“Based on the information we have uncovered, including the accounts of the surviving employees, we believe this tragedy could have been prevented,” the family’s attorney, Zack Lawson, said in a statement to Knox News. he said.

“Impact Plastics was aware of the flood risk and although employees asked for permission to leave, the company did not take action. We will hold them accountable.”

Peterson was one of at least 10 employees of Impact Plastics clinging to the back of a flatbed semi truck as the Nolichucky River rushes down on them.. The truck overturned after being repeatedly hit by debris, and the workers fell into the water.

Everyone on board was swept away, but some were later rescued by a Tennessee National Guard helicopter.

The company denied forcing employees to stay until it was too late. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation And Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration We launched a separate investigation into the business.

Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at: [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone.

Case: Not all Impact Plastics employees left when leadership left

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