County worker killed in fall near Rockville

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

County worker killed in fall near Rockville

by C. Benjamin Ford and Janel Davis | Staff Writers

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A Montgomery County employee died Tuesday morning after he fell while repairing a heavy equipment machine at the county’s Fleet Management Division’s facility on Crabbs Branch Way near Rockville.

Stephen Peters, 55, of Walkersville was taken by ambulance to Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville when he died en route, said county spokesman Patrick K. Lacefield. Peters, a mechanic with the Department of Public Works and Transportation, was married with two children.

‘‘My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time,” County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. ‘‘His death is a tremendous loss not only to them, but to everyone who knew him.”

Inspectors from the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health are investigating Peters’ death, Lacefield said.

County police also are investigating, a standard procedure in fatal accidents, said police spokeswoman Lucille Baur.

An official ruling will be determined after an autopsy report from the state medical examiner’s office.

Peters, who had worked for the county for nearly 29 years, fell off a Gradall hydraulic excavating machine and hit his head, Lacefield said.

Grief counselors were made available to Peters’ co-workers.