Man dies in fall from tower in Centerville

Dayton contractor was working at Bethany Village.

A 30-year CENTERVILLE — employee of Dayton-based P&R Communications firm died Wednesday after falling from the residential tower of the Bethany Village in Centerville, police said.

Mark A. French, 54, of Dayton, died in the incident at 6445 Bethany Lutheran Drive.

Police do not expect foul play, but called the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which arrived within 45 minutes of the incident. An OSHA team will be on site Friday as part of an investigation, said Ken Montgomery, OSHA’s area director in Cincinnati.

Katie Ward, P&R’s chief executive, declined to comment about the incident.

“He was employed with us for about 30 years,” said Ward. “We are very much grieving his loss at P&R and with his family as well.”

“We are cooperating with police and authorities involved,” Ward said.

The downtown Dayton company deals in radio and data communication sales and services.

Ward declined to say if French was working at the time of his death.

A statement from Bethany Village, which is sponsored by the nonprofit Graceworks Lutheran Services, said “a contractor was working” at the location and was “killed in a workplace accident.”

“No one else was injured,” the statement said. “All residents and staff are accounted for and safe. The Bethany Village family sends its prayers and condolences to the contractor’s family.”

Centerville police were called to the tower of approximately 11 stories around 1 p.m. Wednesday. An incident report from the department refers to “a subject who had been struck by a tree branch.”

Lt. Joseph Lavigne said French fell from the tower, but declined to give further details pending the ongoing investigation.