MANCHESTER, Ohio — While the family and friends of Sidney Ware of Augusta, mourn his death, the investigation into the accident that claimed his life continued Wednesday. Ware was killed Tuesday, when a wall of ash collapsed onto, burying him as he worked in a track hoe at Dayton Power and Light’s J.M. Stuart Station near Manchester. Only the red boom of Ware’s machine was visible above the muck; a discarded yellow hardhat lay nearby. Almost immediately, allegations surfaced that emergency personnel and the Adams County Sheriffs Office were refused entry to the property by DP&L, during the rescue. “Yes, temporarily, for about 30 seconds, but we went right on in,” said ACSO Lt. Thomas Wilson. “I am sure the guard was only doing what he had been told to do. The first ambulance was not stopped. There was no malice in his instructions.” Wilson said the brief delay did not interfere with rescue attempts that were already underway by DP&L employees. “There were already about 20 people digging when we got to the site,” said Wilson. Safety of the rescuers was also a concern in the soup of ash. “Sometimes too many rescuers can also be a hindrance and they (DP&L) may have been concerned with not blocking rescue vehicles with too many other vehicles,” said Wilson. Wilson did a preliminary report on the incident. He expected that members of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency would be thoroughly investigating Ware’s death. “From what I saw, Mr. Ware attempted to get out of his machine through the escape hatch in the top of the cab, but he could only get (partially) out of the hatch when he was surrounded by the ash and water,” said Wilson. “It looks light, but the ash mixture is actually very heavy. He couldn’t breath. It appeared to have been an accidental death.” Officials at DP&L are also working with the contractor, VFL Technologies, and will be working with OSHA on the investigation of the accident, said Tom Tatham, DP&L spokesman. “This is an event that has touched all of us at the company and our thoughts are with Mr. Ware and his family,” said Tatham. Ware and his family were also on the mind of Bracken County Judge-Executive Leslie Newman. “Everybody knew him. He was always working with one contractor or another across the area. This is a tragedy and our hearts go out to his family,” said Newman Wednesday. Ware was the husband of Rebecca Loraine Pollitt Ware; father of two children, Angela and David Allen Ware, and grandfather to three children. Moore & Parker Funeral Home, in Brooksville is in charge of arrangements. For more area news, go to www.westunion-online.com Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276.
Source: Ledger Independent, The (Maysville, KY) – Wednesday, July 26, 2006
