A 19-year-old Round Lake Beach machine operator died late Wednesday after he was electrocuted at work.
Erik Peterson, an employee of Tuscarora Plastics Inc., 181 Ida Ave., was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m. Wednesday in Victory Memorial Hospital, Waukegan, said Lake County Coroner Barbara Richardson.
Peterson was working on a contour hot-wire cutting machine, which uses electrically heated wires to cut polystyrene plastic, said Brian LaCourse, operations manager.
The accident occurred about an hour later. Beyond knowing that the cutting machine was running at the time, LaCourse said Thursday afternoon that company officials were trying to determine what caused Peterson’s electrocution.
LaCourse described Peterson as a “very good employee.”
Peterson, who graduated from Round Lake High School in 1993, had worked for the company in the past and rejoined the firm two months ago, LaCourse said.
Peterson is survived by his parents, Guy and Karen; a sister, Julie; and his maternal grandfather, Burgess Dean Sr. Visitation will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday in Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.
