Man perishes in Sinclair camp collapse
SINCLAIR, Maine — A Mars Hill man was killed July 12, 2016 when the camp he was working under collapsed on him, according to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
Kevin Kearney, 49, of Mars Hill had been jacking up and working under his camp in an effort to level it when the camp unexpectedly shifted toward the lake and Kearney was pinned under a floor support, according to a press release issued Wednesday by Sheriff Darrell Crandall.
The 9-1-1 call came in shortly after 3:45 p.m., the sheriff reported. At the time, Kearney’s father, James Kearney, also was at the camp located off Route 162 in Sinclair but was not under the structure, according to Crandall.
The precarious position of the camp made for a very difficult recovery, as emergency responders and some nearby residents worked together to stabilize the camp enough to recover Kearney’s body as safely as possible. Chief Darren Woods of the North Lakes Fire Department said the recovery effort was the most technically difficult he has been involved with in more than 24 years in the fire service.
Crandall and Woods reported in the release that they “found absolutely nothing suspicious and all evidence points toward a tragic accident.”
Nevertheless, deputies are investigating the circumstances surrounding Kearney’s death, in consultation with the state medical examiner’s office, as is required by Maine law.
Even though emergency personnel stabilized the camp somewhat, the area is still unsafe, Crandall said, and he requested people stay away from the structure. Sinclair is part of Aroostook’s Unorganized Territory. Territory officials have been briefed and were expected to be working on what to do about the camp.
Aside from members of the fire department and sheriff’s office, emergency responders included game wardens and state trooper and ambulance service crews from the area.
Crandall and Woods said in a joint statement: “Our thoughts are prayers are with Mr. Kearney’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
