A 47-year-old Kutztown man died Wednesday after falling while working at a construction site in Shillington Borough, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.
Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel said the Coroner’s Office was called to Reading Hospital to investigate the fatal workplace accident, which occurred outside of 18 Catherine Street on June 3.
The Berks County 911 Center received a report at 9:47 a.m. that a male had fallen from scaffolding while working at the job site. Emergency responders arrived on scene and transported the victim by ambulance to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 11:11 a.m.
During the investigation, authorities determined the victim, identified as Francesco Giannotti, had been working from a ladder positioned against scaffolding. As he began descending the ladder, the ladder’s feet slipped, causing him to fall. Investigators said the scaffolding also collapsed during the incident.
An autopsy was completed Thursday, June 4, at Cedar Crest Hospital in Lehigh County. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was ruled accidental.
The incident remains under investigation by the Berks County Coroner’s Office.
The Coroner’s Office was assisted by the Shillington Fire Company, Shillington Police Department, Cumru Township Fire Company, TowerDirect EMS, and Reading Ambulance.