Ohio-Oilfield Death Ruled Accidental After Autopsy

An autopsy conducted at the Licking County Coroner’s Office has confirmed David M. Vernot, 52, suffered a fatal chest injury Tuesday morning when a 3,000-pound pipe rolled off a trailer at an oil and gas well site on Oxford Road and struck him where he stood next to the trailer. 

“The death has been ruled accidental,” said Guernsey County Coroner Dr. Sandra Schubert. “The cause of death was a crushing injury to his chest.” 

The full autopsy report will not be available for several weeks. 

The Pennsylvania resident was pronounced dead at Southeastern Med where he was transported by emergency medical personnel. First responders from the Old Washington and Quaker City volunteer fire departments, United Ambulance and Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene. 

Emergency medical personnel joined forces to transport Vernot to the Cambridge hospital. 

Guernsey County Sheriff Jeff Paden said an investigation revealed the pipe rolled from the trailer, but a forklift was not being used to unload the pipe at the time of the accident. The sheriff corrected his previous statement indicating a forklift was in use when the accident occurred at approximately 11:12 a.m. 

Unidentified workers at the scene performed CPR on Vernot until medical personnel arrived at the remote site between Old Washington and Quaker City, according to scanner radio traffic from the sheriff’s office. 

No other injuries were reported. 

Vernot was reportedly a tractor-trailer driver.

Source: Daily-Jeff