NEWPORT — One man is dead after an accident at a Newport steel plant where a ladle of liquid steel apparently spilled while being moved in the facility's melt shop.

According to a news release from the Jackson County sheriff's officer, Michael E. Myers, 49, of Bald Knob, was killed in the accident at the Arkansas Steel Associates plant on Van Dyke Road at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday.

Authorities said a cable on the crane that was moving the kettle of liquid steel broke, causing the kettle "to fall and tip" over, spilling the liquid, which caused Myers' death.

Several emergency crews were called the the scene, including the Arkansas State Police, Newport Fire Department and ambulance service, the Diaz Fire Department and the Jacksonport Fire Department.