COLUMBIA — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of an electrician who was found electrocuted while working on renovation projects at the University of Missouri football stadium, federal and local records show.
Corey Sooter, 44, a worker for BK2 Electrical and Design, died June 10 after being on site at Faurot Field five days earlier, according to records obtained by ABC 17 News, an affiliate in Columbia. The incident has prompted both emergency response and a federal workplace-safety review.
Emergency response and initial findings
The Columbia Fire Department was called to Faurot Field at 9:05 a.m. and arrived within five minutes, the records indicate. University medics were already on scene providing care to Sooter when firefighters arrived.
Fire crews used specialized equipment to test the stadium wiring and found the system remained energized. The incident was classified by responding agencies as an electrocution.
"The University of Missouri community is deeply saddened by the passing of Corey Sooter. Our thoughts and prayers are with Corey’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time."
The university issued a statement offering condolences to Sooter’s family, while officials confirmed federal investigators with OSHA are now examining the circumstances that led to his death.
What is known so far
Details released publicly so far are limited to initial emergency reports and the university’s statement. Known facts include:
- Victim: Corey Sooter, 44, employed by BK2 Electrical and Design.
- Location: Faurot Field, University of Missouri, Columbia.
- Time reported: Fire department called at 9:05 a.m.; crews arrived within five minutes.
- Initial classification: Electrocution; wiring tested and found still energized.
According to Sooter’s obituary, he was an organ donor, a note local officials highlighted while offering condolences to his relatives.
| Event | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Work at stadium | Five days before June 10 |
| Death reported | June 10 |
| Fire department notified | 9:05 a.m. |
| Arrival of firefighters | Within five minutes of call |
OSHA’s role and next steps
OSHA investigations typically seek to determine whether workplace hazards, employer practices or equipment failures contributed to a fatality and whether any occupational-safety standards were violated. The agency can issue citations and fines if it finds violations of federal workplace-safety regulations.
Officials with OSHA have not released details about the scope of the agency’s inquiry in this case. The university and BK2 Electrical and Design also have not provided further information beyond the initial statement and the records reported by ABC 17 News.
Local impact and safety concerns
The death raises immediate concerns about safety practices on construction and renovation projects at major public facilities. Stadium renovations can involve complex electrical systems and multiple contractors working in close proximity, increasing the risk of hazardous exposures if control measures are not strictly followed.
Community members and campus stakeholders often look to university facilities management and contractors to maintain strict lockout/tagout procedures, clear communication about energized systems and thorough safety oversight during projects. Those measures are commonly scrutinized in the wake of workplace fatalities.
Remembering the worker
Friends and family have remembered Sooter through messages included in his obituary. The notice also said he was an organ donor and helped save five lives — a detail highlighted by the university as it conveyed sympathy to his loved ones.
As OSHA continues its inquiry, local authorities and the university have not announced any changes to stadium operations or the renovation schedule. Investigators typically take weeks to months to complete workplace fatality probes, depending on the complexity of the case.
WE NEWS will monitor the OSHA investigation and provide updates as officials release additional information.
