Worker Dies After Fall At Rantoul Plant

Authorities in Champaign County say a man has died after a 30-40 foot fall at a sports equipment plant in Rantoul.

The News-Gazette reports the Champaign County coroner said Thursday that 50-year-old James Cornelius of Rantoul died from injuries he received Wednesday.

Rantoul Police Sgt. Justin Bouse says investigators believe he fell from a shelving unit where pallets were stacked. 

Bouse says police were called to the plant for California-based BRG Sports on Wednesday night after the apparent accident. He says Cornelius walked onto an area marked as off limits while talking to other employees. 

Cornelius was pronounced dead at an area hospital Thursday morning.

A BRG spokeswoman says Cornelius was employed by Kelly Temporary Services and had been working at the plant for four weeks.