Illinois man dies while working on equipment in Eastern Kentucky University dorm
A contractor died while working on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus on Tuesday, according to the Madison County Coroner’s Office.
The incident happened in the basement of Telford Hall, a dorm at EKU. The coroner’s office said 61-year-old Edwin Burton II, of Illinois, was working on a large piece of equipment, and it broke loose and fell on top of him.
The equipment weighed between 1,000 to 2,000 pounds, according to the coroner’s office.
In a statement, the university said it was saddened to learn about the incident.
“Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, friends and colleagues,” EKU said in the statement. “Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation into the cause of death, we will not have additional comment.”
A spokesperson for the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet said the Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance is investigating the incident.
Telford Hall is a 13-story women’s dormitory featuring two-person bedrooms that are connected by a bathroom shared by four residents. The building was built in 1969 and named after Brown E. Telford, a former professor who taught piano and organ classes for 44 years. She retired in 1962.
