A young man from Warren County was killed on Monday morning while working on a logging road in eastern Potter County.
Jeremy J. Saporito, 23, of Chopper Road in Youngsville, suffered fatal injuries when the Caterpillar bulldozer he was operating turned over on a small hillside due to freezing conditions.
Potter County deputy coroner Ken Wingo said Saporito was discovered around 7:30 p.m. Monday when the property owner, Rod Fontanella, saw that Saporito’s truck was still at the worksite but no equipment could be heard running.
Fontanella went to the site to check on Saporito and discovered him trapped beneath the bulldozer. Emergency services were contacted, with the Galeton Fire Department and ambulance both responding, and members of Germania and Clymer Township fire departments, the Pennsylvania State Police and Potter County Coroner’s Office assisting on scene.
The investigation lasted through the night. Saporito was deceased when first responders arrive, and it is believed the accident happened early in the morning. Wingo said the investigation led responders to believe that Saporito died almost instantaneously, having been thrown from the equipment and then trapped beneath it.
“This was an absolutely tragic accident attributed to the frozen ground. The machine flipped sideways on a small hill,” Wingo said.
Saporito’s passion in life had been working with heavy equipment, and he was co-owner of the construction company contracted for the job of clearing a log road on the Fontanella property in Pike Township.
Wingo said though the old bulldozer, a 1970 model, was in very good condition and had been well-maintained, it lacked the modern safety equipment that would be included on a newer model. The Caterpillar D6C was not equipped with a safety harness or seatbelt, which certainly contributed to the accident, officials said.
Saporito was taken to Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport following the accident for further investigation. His death has been attributed to blunt force trauma.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Nelson Funeral Home in Youngsville.
