On April 7, 2025, Ronald Adams, a 63-year-old skilled tradesman, was crushed to death by an overhead gantry at Stellantis’ Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan, under circumstances which have not been explained by the company, the United Auto Workers, or the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).
Known as the “protector of the plant” for his careful attention to safety, Ronald Adams Sr. was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, and a lifelong resident of Detroit’s northwest Bagley community.
At a public hearing held in Detroit to launch a rank-and-file investigation into Ronald Adams’ death, his widow Shamenia Adams said:
“I stand before you today, not just as a grieving wife, but as a voice for every mother, every wife, and every family who has watched their loved one walk out the door for work, trusting that they will return home safely.
“Our family deserves to know the truth, and I am demanding the truth. Our family is demanding the truth. Not just for myself and our children, but for every family who has ever suffered in silence.
“When our husbands go to work in environments filled with hazardous machinery and unsafe conditions, we expect every measure is taken to ensure their safety. We expect that those who oversee these conditions are held accountable when lives are lost.
“His death cannot go in vain. My husband was a protector, and he cared deeply about safety and stood up for what is right. Many of you have shared how much he was respected and loved. So, honor him now by refusing to be silent. By speaking the truth. By standing together to demand a safe workplace, for yourselves and for those who will come after you. ”