Fayette man dies after touching live electrical circuit while fixing air conditioner, coroner says
A Fayette County man died Wednesday after touching a live 480-volt open circuit while operating on an air-conditioning unit, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson.
James A. McGalla Jr., 33, of Fairchance was working on an air-conditioning unit when he came into contact with the open circuit, Carson said.
The exact cause and manner of McGalla’s death are pending autopsy and toxicology results, Carson said.
Pennsylvania State Police and the Lloydsville Fire Department responded, Carson said. Mutual Aid EMS transported McGalla to Independence Health System’s Latrobe Hospital. He died just after midnight on Wednesday.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, Carson said. Forensic pathologist Jennifer Hammers will conduct the autopsy.
Whitmarsh Funeral Home will be in charge of funeral arrangements, he said.
Quincey Reese is a TribLive reporter covering the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She also does reporting for the Penn-Trafford Star. A Penn Township native, she joined the Trib in 2023 after working as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the company for two summers. She can be reached at qreese@triblive.com.
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