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Work accident kills Mansfield business owner

MANSFIELD — A Mansfield business owner was killed Tuesday when he was pinned under a piece of farming machinery.

Lane Smith, 57, owner and operator of L. P. Smith Co., was working on farm equipment when a manure spreader rolled over on him, officials said.

Mansfield fire and ambulance crews, borough police and personnel from the Mansfield Health Clinic responded to the accident at 1:54 p.m. in the area of Eighth and South Main streets.

A witness told a Mansfield police officer about seeing the accident and trying to operate a nearby tractor to help but being unable to figure out how to operate it. The officer also tried, unsuccessfully, to do so.

An employee from Williams Oil arrived on scene with a forklift and used the forklift to lift the spreader up enough for the officer to pull the man out from underneath the farm equipment, police said.

Upon freeing Smith from underneath the machinery, medical attention was provided by first responders until a Mansfield ambulance arrived on scene. Smith was transported to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Wellsboro, where he died before they were able to transport him by medical helicopter to a trauma center.

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