Department of Labor continuing inspection into workplace death at local business

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A death is still under investigation after a body was found when authorities were responding to a fuel leak at American Property Experts on Sunnyvale Drive.

In a Facebook post, American Property Experts confirmed the passing of Mason Thompson. Thompson is the son of the owner of the company, Jason Thompson, who is a former Wilmington City Councilman and former New Hanover County Commissioner.

At 3:54 p.m. on Dec. 5, the Wilmington Fire Department (WFD), EMS, and Wilmington Police Department (WPD) responded to the business after getting a call about an entrapment and a diesel fuel leak that was caused by some equipment.

Mason was pronounced dead at the scene.

WPD is not investigating the death because it was determined to be non-criminal.

In a statement, the N.C. Department of Labor said, “The N.C. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division has opened an inspection into this fatality.”

There has been no update to the inspection as of Dec. 12.

According to the N.C. Department of Labor, “inspections can take up to six months to complete before there is any information that can be released.”

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