The Impact Plastics tragedy, caused by severe flooding that resulted in the loss of several workers, reached a somber conclusion this week with the discovery of the last missing employee's body. Unicoi County officials confirmed that 29-year-old Rosa Andrade was found in a debris pile beside Interstate 26. WBIR reported that her identity was confirmed the day after her recovery.
The company near the Nolichucky River lost six employees due to the rains from Hurricane Helene on September 27. Rosa Andrade, the last victim found, left behind a husband and two children. According to Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Erwin, her body was discovered by cleanup contractors in Erwin during restoration efforts in the area, as reported by Knox News.
Rosa's body was found in the debris left by the flood, but officials and rescue teams remained vigilant. William Edwards, chief of the Unicoi County Search and Rescue team, said in an interview with WBIR, "One of them spotted the remains and immediately held back from digging any further until authorities were notified."
The family of Johnny Peterson, another victim of the floods, has filed a lawsuit against Impact Plastics, claiming negligence. Employees, as noted in a lawsuit mentioned by Knox News, alleged that management did not provide enough time for evacuation, which may have contributed to the severity of the situation.
The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Impact Plastics incident, and their findings have not yet been made public. Impact Plastics' legal representative stated that the company is mourning and cooperating with the investigation, as stated by WBIR.
