A lift crane fell and killed a 23-year-old Leola man working at a mobile home building business Tuesday afternoon.

East Lampeter Township police say David Rettew, 11 Stoltzfus Lane, Leola, was operating a four- to six-ton lift crane for his employer, Eagle River Homes, 21 S. Groffdale Road, Leola.

At about 3 p.m., the lift crane fell 15 to 20 feet onto Rettew, knocking him unconscious and injuring his head, police said.

Employees who witnessed the accident lifted the crane off the man and provided first aid until emergency medical responders arrived, police said.

Rettew was transported to Lancaster General Hospital, where police said he died.

The crane is used to move completed roof assemblies from the roof fabrication area to the top of the mobile homes, police said.

The crane moves on a rail system 15 to 20 feet off the floor.

Police said it appears one of the carriages came off the rail system for an unknown reason and caused the other two carriages to disengage. That caused the crane to fall.

David Roccasecca of the Harrisburg area office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said a compliance officer would visit Eagle River Homes today.

OSHA investigates all industrial accidents resulting in death, he said.

• Staff writer Ryan Robinson can be reached at rrobinson@LNPnews.com or 481-6032.