A Pennsylvania man lost his life on Oct. 9 in the accidental collapse of a church in Luzerne County. Holy Name-St. Mary’s Church was in the process of being torn down when tragedy struck. Neighbors and former parishioners were on hand to watch the demolition’s progress when, suddenly, the building began to teeter on its foundation and then collapse.
The accident claimed the life of the owner of a local excavating company. The businessman had gained recent notoriety when his company demolished the Sterling Hotel in Wilkes-Barre. He was the only person inside the building when it collapsed. Witnesses report that the entire event unfolded very quickly. Heavy machinery is still buried under the rubble. An investigation by OSHA is currently underway. The agency reportedly will attempt to determine whether industry safety standards were adhered to at the site.