Coroner reports pest control worker fell, died in crawl space Friday
September 26, 2016 3:04 PM
Source: WBRZ
By: Trey Schmaltz
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BATON ROUGE - A preliminary autopsy of a 31-year-old man who died in a building crawl space Friday found the pest control worker fell while on the job, leading to his death.
The coroner's office said Joseph Bassett died from a "fracture of the neck due to blunt force injury to the head due to a fall." The autopsy was performed Monday.
It is believed Bassett slipped and fell while working in a building near the corner of Lobdell and Jefferson Highway Friday afternoon.
Concerned people called 911 after Bassett was seen going into the crawl space and, after lengthy period of time, had still not come out. Emergency crews responding to the situation found the man dead.
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BATON ROUGE, LA - A pest control worker was found dead in a crawl space of a shopping center in a busy shopping district of the city Friday afternoon.
Sources told WBRZ, the 31-year-old unidentified man went into the space of a building near the corner of Lobdell and Jefferson Highway. After a lengthy period of time of the man not returning from the crawl space, employees got concerned and called 911. Emergency crews responding to the situation found the man, sources said.
The East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office said the death is possibly heat related. The autopsy has not yet been performed.
Circumstances surrounding the person's death have not been released. WBRZ reporter Brett Buffington is on the scene.
There was a large emergency presence in the area as the person was freed and examiners worked the scene.
Watch afternoon editions of WBRZ News 2 on TV Friday for live reports. Check this story later for further updates.