Death at paper mill still being investigated

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

PREWITT — After nearly six weeks, the death of a 55-year-old Bluewater man who died of injuries sustained from a high platform fall, is still being investigated.

“The case is still is ongoing and we don’t have anything new on it,” said Marissa Stone, Communications Director for the New Mexico Environment Occupation and Health Safety Bureau.

According to officials, Gerald Burks, 55 was working on a platform above a lower level performing maintenance to ground rails when he fell to the ground, sustaining fatal head injuries. Stone said the platform was about 17 feet long.

The accident occurred at Durango-McKinley Paper Company in Prewitt around 8:15 a.m. on June 27. Information has still not been released to confirm whether there was fall protection on the job site.

Officials with the Durango-McKinley Paper Company said they could not release any information because the case is still being investigated. They declined further comment.
Stone said it is still unclear when the investigation will be completed.

Burks and his family moved to Bluewater in 1993 from Aurora, Ill., where he was born and raised.