Man Dies After Grave He Was Digging Collapses On Him

Local police detectives are investigating the death of a cemetery digger who was killed while working in a grave in Mount Sinai Thursday (February 25) morning.

Rodwin Allicock, 42, of Coram, was working at the bottom of a grave at Washington Memorial Park on Canal Road that was more than 7 feet deep when the grave collapsed at approximately 8:30 a.m., according to a Suffolk County Police Department news release.

Allicock's co-workers attempted to dig him out, but were unsuccessful. The 42-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Center.

The department said Allicock was "leveling out the bottom of a grave" prior to its collapse, Newsday reports.

First responders at the scene included officers from the Suffolk County Police Emergency Service Section, Suffolk County Fire Rescue coordinators, representatives from the Suffolk Count Department of Public works, and members of the Middle Island Fire Department, Hagerman Fire Department, Selden Fire Department and Setauket Fire Department.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was notified and is investigating the incident.

The Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives' investigation into Allicock's death at Washington Memorial Park is ongoing as of Friday (February 26.)

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