ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Michigan lawmakers continue to demand answers from the U.S. Postal Service and have requested a tour of the Allen Park facility after a man was found dead in a machine.
Nick Acker, 36, of Trenton, was found dead Nov. 8, 2025, in a machine at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park.
Firefighters said the body had been in the machine for 6-8 hours before they arrived. It’s not known how Acker got into the machine.
This week, an autopsy revealed that Acker didn’t have any substances or drugs in his system at the time of his death.
According to the medical examiner’s report, Acker’s cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, meaning his breathing was obstructed, leading to suffocation.
Read more: Autopsy finds no drugs in man killed in postal machine in Allen Park, death ruled accidental
On Friday, Jan. 9, Michigan Reps. Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner following up on the Nov. 13, 2025, letter that they sent seeking information about Acker’s death.
In a response dated December 22, 2025, the Postal Service told the lawmakers that the incident is currently under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The agency said it would be inappropriate to release information or comment further while the investigation remains ongoing, according to the lawmakers. USPS also confirmed that its internal Serious Accident Investigation Board (SAIB) has launched a separate review.
While Dingell and Tlaib acknowledged receiving a response, they say significant concerns remain unresolved.
“As we continue to await answers from the OSHA and Postal Service SAIB review, we want to emphasize that countless family members of Mr. Acker, alongside concerned community members, continue to come to our office seeking answers that we do not have. Many are unable to find closure and do not understand how this tragedy could have occurred.
It is imperative that these individuals receive comprehensive information about the scope of this incident, and that assurances are made that the Postal Service is taking all possible steps to ensure another incident of this nature never happens again.
Other employees who work at the facility have expressed concerns to us about their safety and seriously question if the factors that contributed to Mr. Acker’s death pose an immediate risk to their safety on the job. In addition, while the response we received stated, “no management official instructed Mr. Acker to disregard any safety policies while he was working at the Detroit National Distribution Center,” it did not mention the union filed an Article 14 grievance. The grievance stated that management was putting pressure on staff to look for letters while the handling machine was operating, and while we appreciate your assurances, we request a copy of the official response to the union grievance."
Part of the follow-up letter from Dingell and Tlaib
The lawmakers also requested a tour of the Allen Park facility.
“As we continue to await the answers to questions that have arisen from this unnecessary tragedy, we also request an opportunity to tour the Detroit NDC facility in Allen Park,” the lawmakers said in the follow-up letter. “We ask that you respond to this scheduling request within two weeks. Ensuring worker safety remains our top priority. Thank you for your continued attention to this matter, and we look forward to your full and prompt response.”