Lawn work proves deadly for Pa. man

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An Indiana County man landscaping his property died after losing control of a small front-end loader and being pinned by the machine, the county coroner said Saturday.

Gary Eugene Martin, 45, of Marion Center, was using the vehicle to move stone when somehow he tumbled out of his seat and became caught between its bucket and chassis at 8:15 p.m. Friday, said coroner Michael A. Baker.

Rescue workers tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Martin, who died at the scene of head injuries at 9:31 p.m.

The victim apparently was not wearing a seat belt attached to the vehicle, Baker said.

A safety device designed to shut down the machine if the operator comes off the seat was not working properly, he said. Investigators were unable to determine whether the device was defective or had been intentionally disabled, he said.