Spartan Echo

DANVILLE, Va. (AP) — Goodyear is closing a southern Virginia plant temporarily after a third death there in eight months.

Media outlets report that Goodyear confirmed Tuesday’s death at the Danville plant in a statement. Goodyear, Danville’s largest private employer, says the plant will be closed for an evaluation of the facility and investigation of the incident.

The company says its on-site emergency response team and local emergency personnel responded immediately. The company says it has reported the incident to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Goodyear identified the dead employee as Greg Cooper, who had worked for the company for 18 years.

This is the third death at the plant in eight months. Officials say Kevin Edmonds died at the plant March 31 and Jeanie Lynne Strader died there in August 2015.