General Motors worker striking outside Tennessee plant is run over and killed by a car on the picket line
- Roy McCombs died while striking outside the General Motors plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee on Tuesday morning
- He was an employee at the plant and was striking with the United Auto Workers
- The union released a statement describing his death as ‘heartbreaking’ and vowed to ensure safety on the picket line
A striking autoworker in Tennessee has died after a vehicle hit him along a picket line outside a General Motors plant.
Roy McCombs died while striking with the United Auto Workers outside the Spring Hill plant just before 6.30am on Tuesday.
Columbia Police Lt. Jeremy Haywood confirmed that a vehicle accidentally struck a pedestrian outside the plant.
General Motors worker Roy McCombs died while striking with the United Auto Workers outside the Spring Hill plant in Tennessee just before 6.30am on Tuesday (file photo)
United Auto Workers President Gary Jones and Vice President Terry Dittes confirmed the identity of the worker.
They released a statement describing his death as ‘heartbreaking’ for all union members.
The statement said the union was working ‘to ensure that safety is a priority on the picket line’.
‘Roy A. McCombs tragically lost his life today on a picket line standing up for a better life for himself and his coworkers,’ the statement said.
‘On behalf of the UAW, we offer condolences to Brother McCombs and family, friends and co-workers.’
Columbia Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are investigating.
It comes after another General Motors worker also died while protesting.
Jennifer Taylor McDowell, 51, suffered a fatal heart attack while on the picket line in Fort Wayne, Indiana earlier this month.