Family, friends and the Paulding County community of Hiram are mourning a business owner, killed while operating a piece of machinery.
Ron Crist, founder of Crist Roofing & Construction, died Thursday around 3 p.m. at the main office for his company on Ga. 92. He was 42.
“Mr. Crist was working in our yard with personally owned equipment when it malfunctioned, causing his immediate death,” the company said in an emailed statement Friday.
Hiram City Manager Robbie Rokovitz said Friday that Crist was operating a skid steer, a type of loader, at the time of his death.
Firefighters and police were called to the business Thursday afternoon, but details about what happened were not released. A spokeswoman for the Paulding County fire department said OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is investigating.
The day after his death, solemn staff members returned to work, the company’s vice president said.
“Crist Roofing and Construction will conduct business as usual, just as Ron would have wanted us to,” Anthony Mattina, vice president, said in an emailed statement. “We will honor his memory by continuing to maintain a professional commitment to our customers.”
In addition to the Hiram location, Crist Roofing has offices in Douglasville, Marietta and Alpharetta, according to the company's website.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized.
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