Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Darke County resident dies in construction accident
By Shelley Grieshop
A 22-year-old Rossburg man died Wednesday morning after being buried in a ditch at a work site in Freyburg in Auglaize County.
Andrew G. "Andy" Keller, who worked for Tumbusch Construction in St. Henry, was pronounced dead at Lima Memorial Hospital at 11:25 a.m. The company was working on a sewage line at the Glacier Hill Lakes Campgrounds when the accident occurred, according to the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office received a 911 call at 10:03 a.m. reporting a man was injured after dirt collapsed on him. He was taken by St. Johns Rescue Squad to the Lima hospital where he died.
Keller, the son of Steve and Jane (Heitkamp) Keller of New Weston, had worked for Tumbusch Construction company for approximately eight months and was previously employed with the village of Ansonia, where he held a certificate in wastewater management.
During and immediately after high school, he worked for Bruce Rindler Construction of North Star, his older brother, Greg Keller of Fort Recovery, said this morning.
"He enjoyed his family, he definitely was a family man," he said, adding he also loved to hunt, was known for his fun-loving spirit and was close to his seven nieces and nephews.
"He was always willing to give a helping hand," his brother said.
Keller was a 2005 graduate of Mississinawa Valley High School and member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Sharpsburg, where a funeral Mass is slated for Monday. His obituary appears today on page 5A.
The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff's office, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Allen County Coroner.
