Axcell Hernandez, 20, was trapped beneath an overturned railcar while working at the Hardy Farms plant in Durant.
DURANT, Okla. — A 20-year-old father of two was killed after a railcar overturned at a Durant workplace, trapping him underneath as his crew moved railcars without a locomotive, according to police and local news reports.
Family members identified the worker as Axcell Hernandez of Durant. The accident happened Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Hardy Farms plant. Durant police are treating the death as a workplace accident while conducting an investigation that will contribute to a broader federal review. The National Transportation Safety Board also confirmed that it is investigating the fatal incident involving employees moving railcars on an industrial track at the plant.
The Bryan County Communications Center received a call Wednesday morning reporting a railroad incident involving a railcar, according to KXII. Durant police and other emergency agencies responded. Sgt. Nick Spencer of the Durant Police Department said officers located an overturned railcar and witnesses told investigators that a male employee of a local business had become trapped beneath it.
Hernandez had been part of a crew loading and moving railcars at the plant, according to investigators. Police said the railcars were not connected to an engine and were not being moved by a locomotive when the accident occurred. Authorities have not released a complete account explaining what caused the car to overturn, and no official finding on responsibility had been announced as of Tuesday.
Investigators also found that a device known as a derailer was in place. Spencer said the equipment was designed to prevent railcars from rolling onto an active railroad track. Authorities have not said whether the device contributed to the derailment, functioned as designed or was simply part of the equipment at the site. Those questions remain part of the investigation.
Emergency crews needed specialized equipment during the response because Hernandez was trapped beneath the railcar. His body was recovered during the operation, authorities said. Police have not released additional details about the recovery or the precise position of the railcar, and officials have not publicly described any injuries beyond confirming Hernandez’s death.
Family members told KXII that Hernandez was a hard worker and a loving father. He leaves behind two young children, including a toddler and a newborn, according to the family. Brown’s Funeral Service in Durant lists a funeral service for Hernandez from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The Hardy Farms plant declined to comment when contacted by KXII. No public statement reviewed for this report detailed the company’s internal response to the accident or identified any changes to operations following Hernandez’s death. Authorities also have not announced citations, criminal allegations or findings that workplace rules were violated.
Spencer said Durant police are working to complete a thorough investigation while recognizing that other agencies have a role in determining what happened. The NTSB typically collects factual information during the early stages of a rail investigation before reaching a probable-cause determination later in the process. The agency has not announced a cause in Hernandez’s death.
The investigation remained open Tuesday, six days after the accident. Police and federal investigators had not released a final determination explaining why the railcar overturned or whether equipment, procedures or other factors contributed to the fatal workplace incident.
Author note: Last updated October 13, 2026.