Emergency crews rushed to the Preferred Materials asphalt plant on New Berlin Road in Jacksonville on Tuesday after reports of an industrial accident involving injuries. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office units responded to the scene, and fire-rescue teams moved in to secure the area and check on employees, according to city officials. Authorities had not yet detailed how many people were hurt or how serious the injuries were as they worked to stabilize the site.
Emergency response and timeline
According to First Coast News, a call reporting the incident came in around 10:46 a.m. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officers quickly responded to the plant while fire-rescue crews evaluated the situation and began assessing the scene. First Coast News reported that it contacted both Preferred Materials and the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department for comment, although neither had provided a detailed public account of what happened at the time.
Plant and company background
Preferred Materials runs asphalt and ready-mix concrete operations throughout Florida and lists a facility on New Berlin Road in Jacksonville, according to Preferred Materials. Federal workplace records show the company has been subjected to safety inspections in the past, including a March 18, 2022, accident investigation into a worker fatality during paving work, as documented in an OSHA inspection.
Health and safety context
Asphalt plants combine high heat, heavy machinery and constant truck traffic, a mix that can lead to serious burns, struck-by incidents and potentially harmful fume exposure. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health highlights these kinds of hazards for asphalt workers, which helps explain why investigators and hazardous-materials teams often lock down industrial scenes before releasing full details about what went wrong.
What officials say and next steps
First Coast News reported that, as of the latest update, officials had not confirmed the number of people injured or their conditions. Investigators remained on site, and authorities had not released additional details about the cause of the incident. This story will be updated as officials share more information.
