Tombstone Fatally Crushes Cemetery Worker

A 64-year-old South Texas cemetery worker is dead after a five-foot, one-ton tombstone toppled and crushed him to death.

Edinburg police said the man, Guadalupe "Lupe" Mendoza, of San Juan, died about 9 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Edinburg, which is 50 miles northwest of Brownsville.

Cemetery manager Sandy Prost said the tombstone was listing and Mendoza was trying to straighten it when it fell on him.

Edinburg police Lt. Oscar Trevino said an autopsy has been ordered and the death has been reported to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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