OSHA probes fatality at Boardman business

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The Mahoning County coroner’s office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating an incident at a township business that killed an employee.

Township police responded to Crump’s Towing, 4106 Simon Road, about 5 p.m. Thursday, according to a police report, where they found Alfred Bliss, 48, of Fowler, had died after a truck on which he was working fell on him.

A co-worker told police that Bliss was working underneath a pickup truck to disconnect the linkage so the truck could be moved. The linkage reportedly disconnected, possibly causing the truck to roll from a sling and fall onto Bliss.

The co-worker told police that Bliss was unconscious and gasping when they were able to move the truck off him. Bliss was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, according to a police report.

An OSHA representative said the agency is conducting an inspection of the business and that it is too early to say how long that process will take.