Upstate New York Factory Worker Dies in Accident

August 29, 2008

An upstate New York factory worker is dead after he was crushed by a five-ton piece of equipment.

Authorities say Eric Lehman died when a wedge-shaped piece of steel casing fell from its support stands at the Alstom Air Preheater Co. in Wellsville at around 11 a.m. Tuesday. His body was taken to the Monroe County medical examiner’s office for examination.

State Police Investigator Jack Migliore says the death has been ruled an industrial accident.

Alstom Air Preheater employs about 700 people who make equipment used in electric power generating plants. It has manufacturing plants in Wellsville — about 85 miles southeast of Buffalo — and Concordia, Kan.

Migliore says the company hasn’t had a fatal accident in decades.

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Information from: The Buffalo News