Man Killed In Indiana Co. Industrial Accident
BRUSH VALLEY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A Latrobe man was killed in an accident at a mining site in Indiana County.
Steelyn Kanouff, 26, worked as a mechanic at Amerikohl in Brush Valley Township.
He was working at the Oneida Mine Road site around 7 a.m. when the accident happened.
A Caterpillar 773E rock truck had a leak in the front strut. Kanouff climbed on top of the roughly seven-foot tire and was laying on his stomach to get a better look. That's when the suspension gave out.
The body of the truck dropped about a foot, trapping Kanouff between the tire and the frame.
Co-workers standing just feet away heard the collapse, but say Kanouff was gone by the time they reached him. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:18 a.m.
Investigators believe Kanouff's death was instantaneous and say he likely did not even realize what happened to him.
DMS Safety Services says Amerikohl takes safety very seriously and all proper procedures were followed Wednesday morning.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration is investigating along with state police.
It appears this was a tragic accident.
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
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