Dad Dies After Rock Crushes Him While Working in Mineshaft
NEED TO KNOW
- Officials have identified a 61-year-old Pennsylvania man who was crushed by a rock at a quarry this week
- The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as James Gershman from Indiana, Pa. He died from his injuries hours after the incident
- “In his spare time, Jim enjoyed fishing and metal detecting. He liked to tinker and build things. He loved country music and being with his family,” Gershman’s obituary said
Officials have identified a 61-year-old Pennsylvania man who was crushed by a rock at a quarry this week and died from his injuries.
The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as James Gershman from Indiana, Pa., noting in a report that the incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at a Heidelberg Materials facility in Derry Township, Pa. He died about two hours later, at 5:47 p.m.
“The decedent was an employee working in a mineshaft when a large rock impacted the decedent from above,” the coroner’s office said, adding that Gershman’s official cause and manner of death will be determined by autopsy and toxicology results.
The coroner’s office said the Pennsylvania State Police’s Kiski station has investigated the incident. A public information officer from the agency could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE to provide additional details.
A spokesperson for Heidelberg Materials did not immediately respond to a request for a comment about Gershman’s death.
His obituary noted he’d worked at the company for many years and leaves behind his wife, Barbara, and son, Travis.
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“In his spare time, Jim enjoyed fishing and metal detecting. He liked to tinker and build things. He loved country music and being with his family,” the obituary said. “He was a member of the Indiana MOOSE and the Blairsville Masonic Lodge.”
“He will be sadly missed by his dogs, Snoopy and Copper,” the obituary added.
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