Fayette County man killed after air compressor explodes in garage
A Fayette County man has died from his injuries after an air compressor exploded in his garage on Sunday night.
Troopers were alerted to a report of an explosion in the 400 block of Pleasant View Road in Smock, Fayette County, around 9:45 p.m.
Black wreaths now hang outside the Smock Volunteer Fire Department, and the flags are at half-staff, signifying respect for their fallen comrade, William Jesko.
"It's tough. It's real tough," Smock Volunteer Fire Chief Tim Kelly said.
Chief Kelly was sitting on his porch Sunday night when he got an alert on his cell phone for an explosion. When he saw the address, his heart sank.
"Of course, all of us knew the address and knew the name, so we knew it was one of ours, we knew who it was when we got there," Kelley said.
State police were on the scene in minutes, along with Chief Kelly and his crew, where they found Jesko inside his detached garage.
He was suffering from severe injuries due to the explosion.
Life-saving measures were performed on the 69-year-old, but he was pronounced dead a short time later at Uniontown Hospital.
"It's so unexpected. Very unexpected," Kelly said.
An early investigation suggests Jesko was working near an air compressor when, for unknown reasons, it exploded. Investigators say the explosion was so forceful that it blew out the backside of the garage.
Neighbors who didn't want to be identified told KDKA-TV that not only did they hear the explosion, but it also shook their homes.
"He's just so well known throughout the county. He was one of those guys, he was a member here, but some people may have thought he was a member across town at Morrell, or someone thought he was a member at Republic Fire Department because he was always there and helping those people," Kelly said.
Jesko, who was a member of the fire department since 1988, was less than two weeks shy of his 70th birthday.
Chief Kelly says he had so much energy that most people believed he was 10 years younger. If he wasn't tinkering in his garage at home, he was working on equipment at the fire station.
"Our hearts and prayers to the family. That's a lot to deal with. A lot," Kelley said.
State police ruled Jesko's death an accident.
