Ionia County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched Tuesday night along with LIFE EMS, and the Berlin/Orange Fire Department to a reported accidental fall at the Menards store just south of Ionia.

Officers determined that a store employee, a 26 year old Ionia man, was working on an elevated platform machine when he accidentally fell approximately 20 feet onto the concrete floor. 

Paramedics and fireman treated the man on scene before transferring him to Sparrow Ionia Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. 

The initial investigation by the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office showed that safety equipment was working but was likely not used appropriately.  Further investigation of this industrial accident will be turned over to MIOSHA and the Ionia County Medical Examiner’s Office as no foul play is suspected and no criminal offense has been committed.