Lawton Man Dies in Industrial Accident

It is the second tragedy to hit Lawton Transit Mix this year as a 32 year-old Lawton man dies after an industrial accident early Friday morning at the company's location on "F" Avenue near 20^th Street, according to KSWO News. Two of his co-workers were critically injured. The company also had a driver die in a cement truck crash in February.

According to Lawton Fire Department officials, the man who was killed is 32-year-old David Heaverin. Mr. Heaverin was crushed to death when a temporary wall made of concrete blocks collapsed on him and his two co-workers.

On Friday morning, the three men were in a sand pit waiting for a dump truck that was bringing in a fresh load, when something went wrong.

Lawton Fire Department Deputy Chief Lonnie London said, "Unfortunately it appears at this time that somebody pushed on the soil pile from the front side with a heavy piece of equipment, caved the soil in on the three men and trapped them. When it did the middle part of the wall bulged out and the wall collapsed on them."

Lawton Transit mix workers rushed to rescue the men from beneath the rubble and were eventually aided by emergency crews. They were able to free 49 year-old Mark Barker and 41 year-old Dick Tago, but David Heaverin was too far under the wreckage to be saved. He was buried beneath five concrete blocks, which weigh in at around 5,000 pounds each. It took rescuers several hours to recover his body.

"You could see he tried to shield himself, but he just didn't have anywhere to go," said Chief London.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that both Barker and Tago were in critical condition. They had torso and lower body injuries. Tago was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital later in the day.

Safety officials for Lawton Transit Mix and OSHA have begun an investigation into what caused the collapse of the wall. Chief London believes the wall, which was a temporary one, was safe. He also ruled out the possibility that the heavy overnight rains had anything to do with the accident.

The Ponca City, OK based company, Evans and Associates, owns Lawton Transit Mix.

Bruce Evans, who is the company's safety coordinator said, "They were part of our family. This is a small company. We work together, play together, and everyone is very important. We're all in shock right now."

"Industrial Accident Kills One Man and Critically Injures Two Others". KSWO News. http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=6666660