20-05-2025
Man dies after falling 30 feet through skylight at Utz Quality Foods factory
Man dies after falling 30 feet through skylight at Utz Quality Foods factory
A subcontractor died after falling though a skylight at a Pennsylvania snack factory earlier this month, authorities say.
Trever Staten, 34, was part of a crew that was setting up scaffolding to do work on the roof of Utz Quality Foods, a factory located in Hanover Borough on May 2, according to a press release from the York County Coroner's Office.
Utz Quality Foods is an American snack food brand best known for producing potato chips, pretzels and other snacks. The company is headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
"For an unknown reason, it appears that the decedent was on the roof and fell through a sky light, falling to a loading dock area below, approximately 30-34 feet," the agency said.
Staten was transported to a local hospital but died as a result of his injuries. His death was ruled as accidental, with deputy coroner Michelle Rau reporting the cause of death as "blunt force injuries" due to a fall.
Hanover Borough Police Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were investigating. Additional details about the circumstances leading up to Staten's death were not immediately available.
Utz Quality Foods did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Worker's 'greatest joy' was being with his children, online obituary says
Staten, who lived in Harrisburg, was a father to four children, including biological sons Trever G. Staten, Jr. and Julius J. Staten. He was also a member of Carpenters & Joiners Union, Local 431.
"He enjoyed fishing, going to the casino and cooking on the grill. Trever was a football coach for his son's youth league," according to details shared in an online obituary.
His favorite past time was playing on his PlayStation 5, and his "greatest joy was spending time with his kids," the obituary reads.
Funeral services for Staten were held May 12.
