Wood River Junction, Rhode Island, a quiet village known for its peaceful surroundings, was the site of a tragic nuclear accident that occurred 60 years ago. In 1964, United Nuclear Corporation opened a multi-million-dollar facility in the state, heralded as a groundbreaking development that would bring good paying jobs and technological advancement to Rhode Island.
The facility’s primary task was to process uranium scraps to recover enriched uranium, a dangerous but technically simple process. However, a series of mislabeling incidents and a chaotic cleanup led to a criticality accident on July 24, 1964. This accident resulted in a nuclear chain reaction when a highly radioactive solution was mistakenly poured into a tank, splashing employee Robert Peabody with a fatal dose of radiation.
Peabody, a father of nine, succumbed to radiation poisoning within 48 hours of the accident despite efforts to save him. The tragic event led to the temporary closure of the United Nuclear Corporation facility for cleanup and rectification of noncompliance issues identified by regulatory authorities.
Following a settlement with Peabody’s widow and a brief hiatus, the plant resumed operations until its closure in 1981 due to financial reasons. Today, the site is home to the Francis C. Carter Nature Preserve, serving as a reminder of the events that transpired in Wood River Junction six decades ago.
The lingering impact of the nuclear accident continues to be felt in the community, serving as a cautionary tale of the importance of stringent safety measures in handling radioactive materials. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Robert Peabody and the events of that fateful day in 1964 remain a poignant reminder of the consequences of lapses in nuclear safety protocols.