Antonio Gaston Obituary, Death; – The family of Antonio Gaston, a 53-year-old father of four who tragically lost his life in an accident at Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex last year, has initiated legal proceedings against Stellantis North America and other involved parties. The family, accompanied by their legal representatives, will hold a press conference today at noon.
Gaston, who was affiliated with United Auto Workers Local 12, had dedicated 12 years of service to Stellantis. He met with fatality while working on the Jeep Gladiator production line at the Toledo facility on August 21, 2024.
The lawsuit alleges that his death resulted from the removal of essential safety equipment at the plant.
A copy of the legal complaint will be released later today. WTOL 11 will broadcast the announcement live on WTOL 11+, our complimentary TV streaming application.
Currently, Stellantis has not provided a public response concerning the lawsuit brought forth by Gaston’s family. WTOL 11 has contacted Stellantis for a statement. Previously, Stellantis spokesperson Ann Marie Fortunate commented on production interruptions at the Toledo Assembly Complex, indicating that operations at the South Plant, where the Jeep Gladiator is manufactured, were temporarily suspended to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the U.S. market. However, these remarks did not specifically reference the tragic incident involving Gaston.
In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Stellantis for a significant safety infraction following the fatal accident at the Toledo Assembly Complex. OSHA concluded that the company did not implement sufficient safety protocols to safeguard workers from crushing hazards on the Jeep Gladiator production line.
Consequently, Stellantis was penalized with a fine of $16,131 for the violation.
