A Westerville man is dead following a workplace accident Thursday.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Rodney C. Hickman, 53, of Westerville, was pronounced dead Thursday at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.
“Based on our investigation, it appears this was an accident,” said Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton.
Hickman was at a construction site in the 7000 block of Hyland Croy Road on Thursday. The site is on the location of the Jacquemin Farms property.
Investigators said it appears at about 9:03 a.m. Thursday, a large bundle of poplar boards was being lifted and moved by a skid steer. According to information from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, several straps on the lumber bundle “failed.”
Officials said 105 boards fell, some of them hitting Hickman in the head and chest.
Others at the site called for emergency help.
The public safety officer assigned to Jerome Township was on the scene within two minutes and began immediate care of the victim. The Jerome Township Fire Department and additional deputies responded to the scene.
The victim was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital, where he later died.
Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were called to the scene.
“As far as safety rules, OSHA was there to determine if there was any safety issues, anything that wasn’t followed,” Patton said. “I don’t know what that investigation will determine.”
Calls to OSHA went unreturned at press time.
The incident remains under investigation.