Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Worker died after falling about 40 feet while working at Rich Products in Crest Hill





CREST HILL, ILLINOIS– A Des Plaines man died Friday after falling about 40 feet while working at a job site in Crest Hill, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.


Brian Cummings, 60, was pronounced dead at 3:52 p.m. at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, according to the coroner's office.

The Crest Hill Police Department is investigating the incident.

Ed Clark, Crest Hill interim police chief, said Cummings worked as a subcontractor. Police were told he was on a large refrigerator unit inside Rich Products, 21511 Division St., Crest Hill, before he fell.

Clark said the death appears to be a tragic accident.

The company lists the Crest Hill location as a manufacturing facility on its website. Rich Products officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about Cummings' death.

Fernando V. Gamez, 42, of Sioux City, Iowa, also died after a fall at the location in August 2016, causing the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to open an investigation into Gamez's employer, Ortner Construction of Danbury, Iowa.

An autopsy Saturday revealed Cummings suffered multiple injuries due to the fall, according to the coroner's office. The final cause of death is pending police, autopsy and toxicology reports.