Wife of man who died in 2024 bulldozer accident sues Santee Cooper
Share and Follow


GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The fiancée of a man who died last May after his bulldozer fell into a coal pile is suing the utility that operated the facility where he worked.

Jessica Bishop said in a Monday court filing that Santee Cooper is to blame for conditions that resulted in 24-year-old Cody Jordan’s death at its Winyah Generating Station on May 24.

The wrongful death suit logged in George County Common Pleas Court also gives new insight into what went wrong that day — including a faulty on-board GPS system.

Jordan was operating the machinery around 6 p.m., pushing coal on top of a large pile when “suddenly and without warning” he and the bulldozer fell into a “hidden void” and were engulfed.

No other workers or supervisors were near the pile at the time, and there weren’t any witnesses.

Bishop’s lawsuit said a built-in GPS system on Jordan’s vehicle wasn’t working at the time of the accident, and it wasn’t until 6:30 p.m. that Santee Cooper management was notified that he was missing.

A multi-agency search operation was launched and after several hours, rescue workers reached the bulldozer, the lawsuit says.

“The windshields on the cab were shattered and the cab was inundated with coal,” the complaint says.

After several more hours of vacuuming out the vehicle, crews realized Jordan’s body wasn’t inside. Instead, he was found “buried 50 feet under the coal pile, nearly 24 hours after he had been reported missing,” Bishop’s lawsuit says.

Officials said he died from traumatic chest injuries after the bulldozer fell on top of him.

Jordan is seeking unspecified financial damages on grounds of negligence.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Sentence handed down to second defendant in Decatur murder case from 2024

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The second person charged in connection with a…

“Teenager Fatally Shot in Warrenville; Family Seeks Answers”

WARRENVILLE, S.C. () — A young man shot and killed in Warrenville…

House shelves attempt to impeach Trump following actions in Iran

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to set aside an…

New Fire Science Degree Launched by Augusta Tech and Fire Department

AUGUSTA, Ga. ()- The Augusta Fire Department is partnering with Augusta Technical…

“The Evolution of US Adults’ Perspectives on Same-Sex Marriage Post-2015 Supreme Court Decision”

WASHINGTON – For years, it looked as though the United States was…

Debris chaos from hurricanes prompts legislation in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A major issue coming off of last year’s…

Rouse from Central scores a touchdown as he makes a comeback on the football field

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WCIA) — After a season-ending ACL injury derailed the majority…

Trump justifies US attacks on Iran amidst debate over intelligence findings

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that U.S. strikes delivered a…