Impact Plastics says it’s not responsible for death of at least one worker

ERWIN, Tenn. (WSMV) - Impact Plastics said it is not responsible for the death of at least one of its workers. That’s according to recent court filings in response to a lawsuit by the man’s family.

When we first talked to Alexa Peterson in October, she had just filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Impact Plastics. It is where her father, 55-year-old Johnny Peterson, worked as a supervisor.

“It has been a whirlwind,” Alexa said during the October interview.

Flooding from Hurricane Helene hit the factory September 27. Peterson was among six employees killed.

The lawsuit alleged Peterson and others asked to leave work, but they were not allowed to.

“I want everyone who made a choice that day and made a wrong choice to answer for their actions,” Alexa said in October. “I want to hear what their explanation was.”

Impact Plastics is now explaining its side of the story.

In a response to the lawsuit filed this month, Impact Plastics said management never told anyone they could not leave.

The response said Peterson guided Gerald O’Connor, the owner of Impact Plastics, and other members of management out of the factory to safety at nearby railroad tracks. Then, Peterson “went back through the flooded parking lot to where other Impact Employees had congregated,” according to the lawsuit. They were ultimately swept away. Alexa previously told us that her father went back to save others.

“I don’t think he would have been able to live with himself to have left those people there and not tried to help get everyone out,” Alexa said.

Impact’s response said Peterson’s decision “was made voluntarily and in the absence of any direction or request by any of his superiors,” therefore, “Impact was not responsible for his actions,” and that Peterson’s comparative fault was “failing to exercise reasonable care for his own safety.”

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