Man killed in sludge vat identified

Henrico County police have identified the contractor who died Saturday after falling into an eastern Henrico County sludge vat that was being re-roofed.

He was John M. Carden, 20, of Irvington, Ky.

Authorities have ruled out criminal activity in the fatality, in which Carden fell into a vat used to hold semisolid sludge at the county wastewater plant in the 9100 block of WRVA Road.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, Henrico Police Lt. Tom Slayton said.

The tank treats home and business wastewater. Sludge -- organic solids removed from wastewater -- is a byproduct of the treatment process. -- Will Jones