N.C. teen falls into wood chipper, dies during first day of work

GASTONIA, N.C. (WPVI) -- A teen has died in North Carolina after he was pulled into a wood chipper on his first day on the job.[br /][br /]Mason Cox, 19, was putting tree limbs into the wood chipper outside a job site in Kings Mountain when business owner Jon Crawford and other workers heard the machine get bogged down.[br /][br /][url HREF="http://www.wral.com/gastonia-man-killed-after-being-pulled-into-wood-chipper/15160993/[br /]" TARGET="" REL=""]WRAL-TV reports[/url] Cox was attempting to kick a tree branch that got jammed in the machine when he was pulled in.[br /][Ads /][br /]Crawford hit the kill switch and put the machine in reverse, but it was already too late. Cox was pulled into the machine, sending his co-workers and boss into a tailspin of emotion.[br /][br /]His colleagues started running around in shock, ripping off their gloves and their hats. Crawford, meanwhile, suffered a heart attack at the scene and had to be rushed to the hospital.[br /][br /]Cox had just started working for Crawford's Tree and Stump Grinding Service on Saturday.[br /][br /]The victim's grandmother, Alice Neal, [url HREF="http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/police-identify-man-killed-after-being-pulled-wood/npdcp/[br /]" TARGET="" REL=""]told WSOC-TV[/url] she has been haunted by the thoughts of her grandson's final moments.[br /][br /]"How could this happen to such a vibrant, young gentleman?" Neal asked.[br /][br /]OSHA is investigating the accident. Police ruled the incident as accidental, and no foul play is suspected.