Man dies after fencing collapses on him
Dec. 16--An obituary confirmed the name of the deceased as 51-year-old David Scott Hardin of Esther Eigner Lane died unexpectedly. First responders were dispatched to a report of a traumatic incident at 175 Esther Eigner Lane at about 4 p.m.
It appears Hardin was loading wrought iron fencing panels on a utility trailer to haul them for scrap metal, said Reggie Lookabill, captain with Davidson County Emergency Services. The captain explained the panels, which were about 6 feet tall and 8-foot wide, could have shifted prior to falling on the man. Lookabill said Hardin's back was turned and the fencing panels pushed him to the ground. He added that the man was unable to get from underneath the panels.
Nobody was at home when the incident occurred, Lookabill confirmed. Hardin's wife found her husband under the fencing when she came home from work. She had left about 6:30 a.m.. Lookabill said the man sold scrap metal for extra money on a frequent basis.
Larry James, director of Davidson County Emergency Services and the county's medical examiner, estimated the fencing panels weighed between 400 and 500 pounds. The medical examiner believes Hardin had been pinned under the fence since mid-morning Friday.
"There was no way he could extricate himself by the weight pressing against him," James said. "... It's just a bad deal ... Things just went wrong. He was in a position where there was no way he could help himself."
Lookabill and B.J. Simerson, assistant chief of the Tyro Rural Fire Department, each confirmed there were no resuscitation efforts. Davidson County Sheriff's Office Maj. E. Brian Grubb confirmed Hardin's death was a result of an accident.
The obituary stated Hardin, a Texas native, was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and was a self-employed contractor and of the Baptist Faith. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Davidson Funeral Home Chapel. There will be no public visitation, the obituary stated.
Josh Myers, a supervisor with the Davidson County 911 Center, said the Davidson County Rescue Squad, Davidson County EMS, the sheriff's office and Tyro firefighters responded.
Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.
Copyright 2013 - The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C.
