A 17-year-old from Coplay was killed Aug. 9 in an accident involving a wood chipper. The accident occurred at 3785 Excelsior Road, North Whitehall Township, at approximately 1:35 p.m.

Isiah M. Bedocs was officially pronounced dead 2:55 p.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, according to a news release from Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio. The autopsy ruled the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries and the manner of death as accidental. According to the coroner’s report, Bedocs was partly pulled into a commercial wood chipper.

Bedocs was working at a summer job for a commercial tree removal service.

In addition to the coroner’s office, Bedocs’ death is being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police, Bethlehem Criminal Investigation Unit and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Bedocs was the son of mother Amy E. Bedocs and husband Chris, of Coplay; and father Louis M. Bedocs and wife Emily, of Pottsville.

Bedocs was an incoming senior enrolled at Whitehall-Coplay School District, though he was being home-schooled. He would have been entering his fourth year of Lehigh Career and Technical Institute’s auto technology program.

Bedocs loved spending time with his friends, listening to music and taking vacations to the beach, especially Ocean City, Md.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Analyz and Destiny; a brother, Jacob; and many other family and friends.

An email from WCSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel was sent to families Aug. 10, informing the community of Bedocs’ death.

“Anytime there is a loss in our community, our students, staff and families will have various needs and require different levels of support and assistance,” Steckel wrote. “Our school counselors are available at the high school daily and are here to support anyone who needs help.”

Steckel said high school administration, counselors or psychologists can be reached at 610-437-5081.

Steckel also listed other resources for students, including grief counseling through Lehigh Valley Health Network, 610-402-7481; and Compassionate Friends, a national self-help bereavement organization with a Lehigh Valley chapter, lehighvalleytcf.org/home.aspx.

A funeral was held Aug. 15 at Brubaker Funeral Home Inc., Coplay, followed by burial at Coplay Cemetery and a celebration of life at the Egypt Memorial Park pavilion.

Contributions may be made to the family, care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to the family at brubakerfuneralhome.com.

Family friend Christine Castro organized a GoFundMe to support the family. She said Bedocs “had his whole life ahead of him. He was a happy teenager who went to work and sadly didn’t come home after a tragic accident.”

As of press time, $17,537 has been raised of the $20,000 goal.

“This means so much to this family,” Castro said of the donations. “No money in this world will bring Isiah back. But this family has a long road of recovery ahead of them,” she said.

To donate to the GoFundMe, visit gofundme.com/f/memorial-for-isiah-bedocs.