An investigation continues into Wednesday’s fatal accident at a Cedar Rapids corn processing plant.

Jon Usher

Two men were found unconscious Wednesday morning at the Archer Daniels Midland facility at 1350 Waconia Ave. SW. A 50-year-old man later died and a 46-year-old man was receiving treatment at a local hospital at last check.

The man who died has been identified as Jon D. Usher of Cedar Rapids, according to an obituary submitted to The Gazette. The name of the other man has not been released, but an ADM spokeswoman said Thursday he is expected to recover.

Firefighters responded around 7:25 a.m. to the facility after the men were found in the corn wet mill area. Authorities believe the men encountered an “oxygen-deficient environment,” causing them to lose consciousness. Co-workers moved the men to open location to make it easier to provide medical assistance, officials said.

Preliminary reports indicate the two employees were preparing a fermentation tank for maintenance, according to ADM spokesperson David Weintraub. Usher had worked at ADM since 2006, according to his obituary.

The plant, which processes corn into ethanol and other products through a wet milling process, was operating normally Wednesday after the incident, the company said.