State Police Investigating Fatal Industrial Accident North of Georgetown

Georgetown - The Delaware State Police are investigating an industrial accident that claimed the life of a Salisbury man earlier today.

The incident occurred around 1:08 p.m. this afternoon, Tuesday August 8, 2017 when a 9-1-1 call was placed to the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center advising that a man had been trapped under an automobile at Donovan Salvage Works Inc. Troopers and Emergency Medical Personnel responded to 20262 Donovans Road where they located a 41-year-old male laying on the ground near a car. Lifesaving steps were performed on the man who was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation revealed the man, who was a customer, was attempting to remove a part from a vehicle in the yard and had used a jack to raise the vehicle and a spare tire was placed underneath as a buffer. The car, which was on dirt and gravel, came dislodged from the jack and landed on top of the male. Witnesses noticed the man under the car and ran to the office to alert them of the incident. Workers responded with a fork lift and removed the vehicle prior to the arrival of EMS. The victim was alone at the time of the incident and it is presently unknown how long he may have been trapped.

The Delaware Division of Forensic Science responded to the scene and removed the victim, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, to conduct an autopsy. Foul play is not suspected.