KERSEY – A worker who was missing after a landfill collapse Wednesday was found dead at Greentree Landfill in Elk County on Friday, officials said.
According to GANT News partner WJAC-TV, a state police spokesperson has identified the man as 49-year-old William L. Pierce of DuBois.
A spokesperson for Advanced Disposal said that Pierce had worked for the company for 16.5 years.
During a news conference at the site, Elk County Coroner Michelle Muccio said Pierce’s body was recovered Friday afternoon and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:25 p.m.
Muccio said Pierce likely died of blunt force trauma to the head but noted that the official cause of death won’t be determined until after an autopsy is performed Saturday.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Bruce Morris said Pierce’s body was recovered inside a compacting machine 40 feet under the trash at 1:20 p.m. Friday.
Morris also said the four, other workers who were there at the time of the landfill collapse Wednesday escaped without injury.
