A 36-year-old man from Emmaus died at a work site in Lehigh Township Jan. 4.

According to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, Nicholas A. Varec was the victim of an on-site job accident in the 4100 block of Mountain View Drive.

He was reportedly pinned between construction equipment and a trench box. The accident occurred just before 12:30 p.m.

A trench box is considered a type of protective system used when digging. It isn’t designed to steady or prevent a trench wall from collapse, but rather to protect workers from the weight of the soil in the event of a cave-in.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident, along with Lehigh Township Police Department.

Varec was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Bethlehem, where he was pronounced dead about 2 p.m. Jan. 4.

An autopsy Jan. 6 determined Varec died from multiple blunt force trauma, according to the coroner’s office. The death was ruled an accident.