The coroner has identified a Libertyville man, who was the owner of an excavation company, that was found dead after being crushed by a ramp near Vernon Hills.
An autopsy performed Thursday on Wladyslaw Dziedzic, 53, of Libertyville, showed he died from blunt force injuries, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 6:30 a.m. Thursday to the 24800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in unincorporated Vernon Hills for a report of a person down.
Sheriffโs deputies arrived and located Dziedzic with crush-type injuries, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The man was underneath a trailer ramp used to load and unload heavy equipment.
Dziedzic was confirmed to be deceased at the scene, Covelli said.
A preliminary investigation shows Dziedzic arrived at the property earlier in the morning to remove a Komatsu excavator from a trailer.
The excavator needed to be unloaded so the trailer could be taken to a work site.
After unloading the excavator, investigators believe Dziedzic used the bucket on the excavator and chains to raise the trailer ramps, which weigh approximately 300 pounds each.
While working to latch the ramps to the trailer, the chain likely slipped, causing it to come free from the ramps, Covelli said.
The ramps fell and one of them landed on top of Dziedzic, crushing his torso.
Dziedzic was the owner of an excavation and demolition company.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was notified of the incident.
Covelli said foul play does not appear to be a factor but sheriffโs detectives continue investigating.