GARY | A 28-year-old Hobart man died early Tuesday after being struck in the head while he was working inside a mixer at U.S. Steel Inc.'s Gary Works, the company said.

The victim was identified as Jeremy Simpson, a Bisco Refractory Inc. employee.

Officials said Simpson was spraying refractory material inside a large vessel, which is used to hold liquid iron, about 2 a.m., when a section of refractory fell from inside the vessel. Refractory is a heat-resistant, protective coating used in blast furnaces, vessels and steel-making shops.

Emergency personnel transported Simpson to The Methodist Hospitals, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, according to U.S. Steel Corp. spokesman John Armstrong.

"We regret this terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to his family," Armstrong said.

Birmingham. Ala.-based Bisco Refractory is a contractor for U.S. Steel. Dennis Gentry, construction superintendent at Bisco's Griffith office, declined to comment Tuesday morning.

"(Indiana) OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is here now," Gentry said. "The investigation is just beginning. It will take a day or two. Obviously, he was a good friend of mine."

Simpson is survived by his wife, Sarah; two children, Jake and Maddie; father, Rick Simpson; mother, Jan Simpson; stepmother, Shannon Simpson; and brothers: Jason, Andrew and Riley Simpson.

The victim, who was a 1997 graduate of Hobart High School, was a football standout who was named to the Associated Press's first-team, all-state Class 4A squad in 1996.

Hobart assistant football coach Steve Balash described Simpson Tuesday as a "hard-nosed, good football player."

"He started at tackle on offense and as a defensive tackle on defense," Balash said. "He was fun-loving kid with a great family and a great personality. Condolences to his wife and family and parents ... It's a heartfelt loss to them, the school and the community. He went above and beyond to represent Hobart. He did it willingly and with a smile."

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Burns Funeral Home, 701 E. Seventh St., Hobart. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the children's education fund through Burns Funeral Home.

Simpson's fatality was the first at a Northwest Indiana steel plant this year.