Saturday, July 22, 2017

Matthew Walter Kantala IV, 36, of Elberton killed at the Blue Sky Quarry when an 8-ton rock broke away and crushed him to death in Oglethorpe County, Georgia



A photo showing portion of the Blue Sky Quarry in Oglethorpe County. (Elberton Granite Association Facebook)  






Oglethorpe County, Georgia

Oglethorpe quarry worker killed when crushed by rock


The man killed while working in a granite quarry in Oglethorpe County has been identified as Matthew Walter Kantala IV, 36, of Elberton.

Kantala was killed in a work-related accident that occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday at the Blue Sky Quarry located off Veribest Road in a northeastern section of the county, according to Oglethorpe County Deputy Coroner Mark Bridges.

Kantala was drilling a section of granite when a large section of rock broke away, according to Bridges.

“He went to move out of the way, lost his balance and fell,” Bridges said.
 
Kantala fell about 16 feet onto some more rock, but the large rock, estimated at 16,000 pounds, fell on him, according to the coroner.

The Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating.



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Oglethorpe County granite worker killed in quarry fall


A 36-year-old Elberton man was killed Wednesday while working in a granite quarry in Oglethorpe County, authorities said.

Oglethorpe County Deputy Coroner Mark Bridges said he couldn’t yet release the man’s name. The fatality occurred shortly after 10 a.m. at the Blue Sky Quarry located off Veribest Road in a northeastern section of the county, according to Bridges.

The man was killed when he fell while drilling rock, Bridges said. The Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating.


Here is the gofuckme page:
 https://www.gofundme.com/support-for-the-kantala-family

Support for the Kantala Family


As many of you know Matthew Kantala of Elberton was killed tragically today at the Granite quarry where he worked. He was only 35 and leaves behind a wife and 3 children. He worked hard and provided 100% of the family income. As you can imagine the coming weeks will be so hard emotionally as well as financially for his family. Please donate if you can, anything will greatly help with his final expenses as well as support for this sweet family. Thank you.