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Westfield Man Killed In Accident At County Landfill

A Chautauqua County paramedic is pictured leaving the County Landfill on Monday afternoon. A man was killed in an accident, Sheriff James Quattrone said. P-J photo by Cameron Hurst

ELLERY — A Westfield man was killed Monday afternoon at the County Landfill in what Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone described as an accident.

Volunteer firefighters from Sinclairville were called to the landfill, located within the town of Ellery, around 1:30 p.m. for a report of an injured man.

An investigation found that 56-year-old Scott M. Deming, described by the sheriff as an independent contractor, was standing behind a large pile of garbage and debris that he had just dumped at the landfill when he was struck by a bulldozer. The Sheriff’s Office said the bulldozer operator had “no idea” Deming was behind the pile when the debris was pushed into a pit.

Deming was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There is an accidental death of an independent contractor who was dumping at the landfill,” said Quattrone, who was at the landfill Monday afternoon with members of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division. “We are still investigating, but (it) appears that the individual was in (the) path of a bulldozer.”

Several tractor trailers could be seen stopped at the entrance of the weigh station at the landfill. No one was being allowed beyond that point.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing, but Quattrone noted that no charges were anticipated.

Assisting Sinclairville and the Sheriff’s Office at the scene were members of the county Department of Public Works, Chautauqua County EMS and the coroner’s office.

Cameron Hurst contributed to this story.

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