Kundel owner calls 4 workers heroes

OSHA's findings may not be available for four months, the assistant chief says.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
AUSTINTOWN -- Bob Kundel says four welder-fitters with Kundel Industries risked their lives to help rescue two men injured when stacked steel at an adjacent business fell through a concrete floor.
"I couldn't believe what I saw them doing -- one was holding in a man's stomach," Kundel, president of Kundel Industries, said Wednesday. "My employees are heroes -- they jumped down to help out. I'm so proud of them."
Kundel identified the men as Jenn Montgomery of Newton Falls, Donald Allgood of Hubbard and Bob Spade and Kevin Markel, both of Warren.
The industrial accident that injured two men at Penn Ohio Logistics, a steel warehouse, happened around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Both Raymond Queen, 39, and Lawrence Boatwright, 46, were in the surgical intensive care unit in critical condition, Tina Creighton, St. Elizabeth Health Center spokeswoman, said Wednesday.
A man who declined to give his name at Penn Ohio Logistics, citing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation, had no comment about the accident.
About the complex
Penn Ohio Logistics is one of several businesses in an industrial complex, site of the former Youngstown Steel Door, that sits on land between Henricks Road and Connecticut Avenue.
Allgood, 37, said he believes the floor at Penn Ohio collapsed from the weight of too many steel bars stacked on it. He's been a Kundel employee for about six months.
"The floor just couldn't hold it," Allgood said. "They were stacking more steel when the floor gave way."
He said the floor collapsed before a second cable on a crane moving steel could be unhooked. The two workers, steel and a section of concrete floor then crashed through to the ground floor of the building, he said.
Allgood said one of the injured men, whom he knows as "Ray Ray," couldn't breathe because of the weight of the steel. The second victim, nicknamed "T," had deep gashes to his head and arms, he said.
After the first collapse, a weakened second section of floor fell. Those who witnessed it said the sound was deafening. Roughly 15 Austintown firefighters were nearby; one injured his knee.
OSHA investigation
Eric Peterson, an OSHA compliance officer, toured Penn Ohio Logistics on Wednesday. He was joined by representatives of the Mahoning County Engineer's Office, fire department, Penn Ohio officials and others.
Workers such as Allgood who witnessed the accident also were summoned to the industrial complex to be interviewed by the OSHA compliance officer. Allgood said afterward that OSHA and the engineers are thinking there was too much load on the floor.
Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Frost III said structural engineers will determine how much load the floor could have withstood and how much weight was on it.
Frost said OSHA's findings will likely be released in four months. He said engineers will determine what parts of the building can be used again.
Praise for rescuers
Fire Chief Andrew Frost Jr., meanwhile, said Wednesday that workers, firefighters and paramedics pitched in to help rescue the injured men. He praised the work of the Youngstown Fire Department rope rescue team, saying they climbed from the ground level up the pile of toppled steel to get to the man pinned in the accident.
"The team, Capt. Rich Russo, I give them all the credit in the world," Frost said.
Youngstown Fire Chief John J. O'Neill Jr. said it was one of the most challenging rescues he's seen -- a matter of trying to save victims without getting personnel killed.
"I was very impressed how safety personnel and plant workers kept their heads," O'Neill said. "The rescues were handled in a quick and efficient manner."
Kundel, meanwhile, said the former Youngstown Steel Door buildings, now operating as Steel City Leasing, are owned by Bill Marsteller. Marsteller owns other industrial sites in the Mahoning Valley.
Kundel said his business manufactures trench boxes, safety equipment and overhead crane kits and employs 40 to 50 workers. He's hoping to be have his business operating again by Monday.
meade@vindy.com