The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a worker at a hotel demolition site in State College on Thursday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the federal agency confirmed in an email on Friday that OSHA has initiated an investigation into the incident, in which Joshua Farkas, of Maryland, fell five stories from the former Days Inn Penn State building at 240 S. Pugh St. at about 4:30 p.m.
Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers identified Farkas on Friday and said the 42-year-old died of blunt force head trauma. Farkas was pronounced dead at the scene.
The manner of death was accidental, according to Sayers. Police said on Thursday evening that a preliminary investigation indicated the fall was accidental.
Farkas was working for ISA Demolition of White Marsh, Maryland, the OSHA spokesperson wrote.
OSHA has six months to conduct its investigation and release its findings.
The Days Inn — along with the adjoining Mad Mex restaurant and Brewsky’s Bottle Shop — closed earlier this year after being sold to housing developer Core Spaces, which is building a six-story student apartment complex on the site. Demolition work on the existing building began in June.
