Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn says an Emporia man died Friday at a rock quarry outside Melvern.
Frank Rockers, Jr., was 68 when he died. Rockers had been taking samples at the base of a large pile of chat, or gravel-like waste. The pile gave way and buried the victim.
Harshman Construction, the owner of the quarry, says it will close eight of its 13 quarry locations Monday, including the facility outside Melvern. Harshman plans to reopen all the quarries Tuesday. Osage County deputies are investigating.
7:45 pm Saturday: Harshman Construction closing most quarries Monday after fatal incident near Melvern
The quarry where one man died Friday will be among several closed by its parent company Monday.
Harshman Construction says it will close eight of its 13 quarry locations, including the facility outside Melvern where the fatal incident happened Friday afternoon.
A man had been taking samples at the base of a large pile of chat, or gravel-like waste. The pile gave way and buried the victim. The victim’s name has not been released. Osage County deputies are investigating. Harshman plans to reopen all its quarries Tuesday.
6 am Saturday: Investigation underway after fatal rock slide near Melvern
Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn says a man died after a rock slide near Melvern on Friday.
The incident happened at the Harshman Construction rock quarry, about three miles southwest of Melvern, shortly before 2:30 pm. Dunn says a man had been taking samples at the base of a large pile of chat, or gravel-like waste. The pile gave way and buried the victim.
Two workers saw the incident and immediately started to find the victim. Deputies, Osage County Fire District No. 3 and Osage County EMS all responded and started rescue efforts when they arrived, but the man was eventually removed and pronounced dead.
An investigation continues. The victim’s name is not being released until next of kin are notified.
