Elgin man loses arm after accident at Bartlett pasta plant

A 25-year-old Elgin man had to have his left arm amputated after it was caught in an industrial mixing machine Friday at a pasta manufacturing plant in Bartlett, officials said.

According to Batallion Chief Dave Misner of the Bartlett Fire Protection District, the man - whose arm was caught in the machine up to his elbow - was conscious and responsive when fire personnel arrived around 3 p.m. at Rana Meal Solutions LLC at 550 S. Spitzer Road.

First responders worked along with staff members at the plant for 45 minutes to take apart the machine that the man's arm was trapped in.

As the crews worked to free the man, a Flight for Life helicopter waited outside to rush him to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

"We had high hopes that they could save his arm," Misner said. "At the trauma center they had surgeons standing by."

Misner said he did not know how the man got stuck in the machine.

The man's name was not released by fire officials.