The Poulan gasoline chainsaw a 68-year-old York County man was using when a fire caused fatal burns last week was not defective, Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday.
The accident that led to 85 percent full-thickness burns on the body of David M. Baker, of Warrington Township, was caused by user error, state police Trooper Brent Miller said.
State police performed the probe that led to the conclusion, Miller said.
They did not specify what sort of error was made.
Baker was pronounced dead early Friday morning by the Lehigh County Coroner's Office following the incident just after noon Thursday on Baker's property that was originally labeled an explosion. Police later termed it a fire.
Baker had been taken to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, where he died, the coroner's office said.
David M. Baker
Dover
David M. Baker, 68, died Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.
David was born July 24, 1949 in Carlisle, the son of the late Melvin R. and Mary E. (Chubb) Baker.
David was a member of the East Berlin VFW Post 8896, Richard J. Gross. He loved to fish, work on small engines, and was an avid gardener. David was employed with Arron Enterprises for many years and Wagoner Construction Co.
David is survived by a brother, Keith L. Baker and his wife, Susan of East Berlin; three nephews, Kevin Baker of AZ., Shawn Baker of NE, and Brock Baker of East Berlin.
Following cremation, a memorial service will be held on Friday, November 24, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Feiser Funeral Home, Inc. 306 Harrisburg St., East Berlin, Burial will be private. The honor guard of the East Berlin VFW Post 8896, Richard J. Gross will conduct military rites at the Funeral Home. Memories may be shared at www.feiserfuneralhome.com.
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Chainsaw explosion kills man working on his property
November 18, 2017
By Tony Rhodin
For lehighvalleylive.com
A 68-year-old York County man died early Friday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township from complications due to burn injuries sustained just after noon Thursday in a chainsaw explosion, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office reports.
David M. Baker of Warrington Township was pronounced dead at 1:41 a.m. Friday after suffering 85 percent full thickness burns, the coroner's office said.
His death was ruled an accident.
The coroner's office continues to investigate with Pennsylvania State Police.
A trooper at the York barracks couldn't immediately provide more information, but confirmed another trooper there was involved in the probe.
Coroner Scott Grim later said the man was doing work on his own property when the chainsaw exploded.
The burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury often draws cases from throughout the eastern portion of the state.