California Woman Dies After Getting Caught In Raisin Processing Machine

A California woman died Friday after her clothing and hair became caught in a raisin processing machine.

Yaneth Lopez Valladares, a 33-year-old mothe, was attempting to clear debris from the machine at a dehydrating plant for the Del Rey Packing Company in Sanger, a city in Fresno County. A loose piece of Valladares' "clothing got caught on a shaft to a cylinder that breaks up raisin bunches, causing the employee to strike their head," according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Valladares died at the scene due to severe injuries and trauma sustained in the accident. The incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m.

Two other employees working nearby turned the machine off immediately and called 911 but were unable to save her. Valladares had been working at the plant for two years.

“It was the most awful scream I've heard,” a witness told the Sheriff’s Office. “It sounded like a blood curdling scream, soon after that the fire department showed up, followed by police.”

The officers with the Fresno County Sheriff were joined on the scene by the Sanger Fire Department. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health is reportedly looking into the accident.

“We are in deep sorrow,” Del Rey President Gerald Chooljian said about the accident.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Valladares.