Grim news out of Copiah County, Miss., just before Christmas, where a roofing crewman fell through the portion of roof he was working on at a local middle school gave way, dropping him 50 feet to the gymnasium floor below. 

According to authorities, Eduardo Cruz Moran was killed after he fell through the gymnasium’s roof at Crystal Springs Middle School in Crystal Springs, a small city of 5,000 people about 26 miles south of Jackson.

Moran, 31, was working for a private company hired to repair the school’s roof. Thankfully, no students were present when the accident happened.

“We had gotten out of school about 1:45 p.m. that day,” Cpt. Gerome LeFlore, director of safety for the Copiah County School District, told WLBT-TV, which first reported the story. “That was an early day for us; we’re grateful no kids or staff were here when it occurred.”

LeFlore also confirmed the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were investigating the matter and had spoken with company representatives. 

“They came down; they had some interviews with the company that I wasn’t a part of ... They did look at the scene [and] took some photographs,” he said. “We’re waiting on their report.”

The captain declined to release the contractor's name but said it was an out-of-state firm chosen through the district’s bidding process. 

Deputy Copiah County Coroner Judy Evans said Moran was living with family in Texas when he came to Mississippi to help with the project. His family there was notified shortly after the incident on Dec. 19; Evans said the victim’s parents reside in Mexico.

LeFlore said OSHA made some recommendations to the company. Repairs are expected to be completed before students and faculty return in January.