Wall toppled by wind gust kills 1

EDGERTON, Ohio (WUPW) - An 18-year-old construction worker was killed Wednesday morning in an industrial accident at Edgerton High School in Williams County.

The Edgerton Fire Department tells FOX Toledo News that a man was working on a project at the high school.

The victim, identified as Keith LaFountain, was from Ohio. He was a sub-contractor who specialized in masonry said Dr. Kevin Park, Williams County Coroner.

A second story corridor wall roughly 8-to-10-feet tall was blown over by a strong gust of wind. The construction worker was working below the wall, fire officials said.

A line of storms crossed the Midwest Wednesday morning, and crossed into Williams County, on the Indiana-Ohio state line, at around 11 a.m.

John Taylor, Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in North Webster, Ind., said the storm rolled through Edgerton between 11:20 - 11:25 a.m. Wind gusts exceeded 47 miles per hour at the nearest reporting site but it is likely that winds were stronger locally in association with the actual thunderstorm.

Wind gusts in excess of 59-60 mph were reported to the National Weather Service from Wednesday's cluster of storms.

The construction being done was on a new 45,000-square-foot addition to serve as an elementary school as part of Edgerton High School. The project manager for the construction is DCK Worldwide, the Ohio School Faculties Commission said. According to its website, DCK Worldwide is a global provider of innovative building solutions, specializing in complex projects—including remote locations.

OSHA investigators might present their findings by Friday.

The accident remains under investigation.

DCK Worldwide, Edgerton Local Schools, and the Edgerton Police Department declined comment.

In late June, a late evening summer storm packed with high winds destroyed Edgerton's historic town hall that was built in the 1880s. Debris from the partially collapsed town hall fell on the city's fire station and injured a firefighter.

Incidentally, the school building that is being added on to is currently housing the Edgerton city offices, including the police department after the June 24 storm damaged their offices.

This is the second fatal industrial accident within a month in Northwestern Ohio.  A roof collapsed at a construction site in Fremont on July 8, killing one worker and injuring three others.

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FOX Toledo News reporter Heather Miller and Chief Meteorologist Doug Moats contributed to this report.