By Anthony J. Machcinski
An unfortunate accident at a production company in Kearny had a deadly ending on May 25.
Around 1:50 p.m., Kearny Police and EMS were alerted to a report that a worker at the Hummel Machine and Tool Company at 580 Davis Ave. had been injured on the job. When they arrived at the scene, they found the worker, 55-year-old David Kornas of Kearny, with injuries to his neck.
Kornas was rushed to University Hospital in Newark and was pronounced dead at 2:45 p.m.
Authorities haven’t released the cause of death. According to Kearny Police Sgt. John Taylor, the accident occurred when Kornas heard an engine over-revving. As Kornas went to shut the machine off, a piece that was being fabricated in the machine crashed through the protective observation window of the machine, striking Kornas in the neck.
The machine was a Hurco TM10 Lathe, used to cut and sand metal among other things. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesperson Leni Fortson, an investigation is ongoing with the company.
As of The Observer’s press time, executives from Hummel could not be reached.
Kornas was born in Jersey City and was a lifelong resident of Kearny. Kornas had been a supervisor at Hummel Machine and Tool Company and had been an employee there for the past 36 years.
Kornas was also a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard for 11 years. Kornas leaves behind a wife, three children and three grandchildren.
