Williams succumbs to burn wounds from recycling center fire

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, August 6, 2019

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The Cordele man who suffered serious burns at Synergy Solutions at an accident there on Wednesday, July 24 passed away Monday at the Doctors Hospital Burn Center in Augusta.

Antoine “Detroit” Williams was 35. Specialists at the burn center had been treating wounds that he sustained while loading a fuel tanker.

Ron Dortch, Synergy’s vice president of business development, said Williams’ co-workers at the recycling center were devastated by Williams’ passing.

“Antoine was a part of this family we have here at Synergy, and we’re all hurting,” Dortch said. “Antoine was a special guy.”

Dortch said employees at the recycling center had contributed their own money to help cover travel costs for Williams’ family as they drove back and forth to Augusta to be with Williams during his recovery. Now the company is setting up an online fundraising campaign to assist the family.

Donations can be made by visiting www.gofundme.com and entering a search for “Antoine Williams.”

According to an incident report filed by Crisp County Fire Rescue, Williams was working at the tanker filling station at Synergy’s facility when the fuel ignited. Several Synergy employees witnessed the mishap, and Dortch said Synergy brought mental health counselors on site the day after Williams was hurt to assist anyone who may have been affected by accident.

“The management and staff are feeling the heartbreaking loss of a friend and coworker and we are praying for Detroit’s family as they go through this time of grief,” Dortch said.