Sunday Record Herald

September 27, 2009

FOX, RUSSELL - West Milton man dies in bulldozer accident - Miami Township - Russell Fox's untimely death remains a mystery as of press time. The 50-year-old West Milton man operated heavy machinery most of his life and was well aware of safety factors. At 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 19, Fox got out of the cab of his Caterpillar bulldozer and somehow ended up behind the 44,795-pound machine. It reversed and killed him instantly said officials. The bulldozer continued to run in reverse until stopped by a tree, when another employee climbed in and took it out of gear. Fox was working for Kelchner Company on a project near the planned Austin Pike interchange by Interstate 75. The company was importing fill into a large flat piece of land. It was only the third week of employment for Fox by Kelchner. "Even though he was only with us for a short time, we know he was one of us," said owner Todd Kelchner. "Dirt workers are a special group, and he was a great guy." Why did Fox get out of his cab? According to officials, despite multiple people on the work site, no one saw what happened until after the fact. The accident is being investigated by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) along with Miami Township Police. They have no conclusive findings yet. Fox had no known, pre-existing medical conditions. "We don't know how this happened," said Kelchner. "Everybody and their brother is trying to figure it out, but nobody knows." Fox is survived by his wife, Danita of West Milton; mother, Janet Fox of Troy and his two adult children. 

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