BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A 33-year-old Bethlehem man died Saturday after a vehicle fell on him while he was working underneath it, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
Matthew D. Semsey was pronounced dead at 3:12 p.m. on June 21 in the emergency department at St. Luke’s University Hospital. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. in the 200 block of East Garrison Street when the jack supporting his vehicle failed, causing the vehicle to collapse on top of him.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was complications of traumatic asphyxia. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
Although rare compared to roadway fatalities, jack failures remain a hazard during vehicle maintenance.
Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System show that approximately 4,800 people are treated annually in U.S. emergency rooms due to jack or jack stand failures.
More than 10,000 people each year sustain serious injuries while using car jacks or hoists.
Safety experts emphasize that jacks should be used only to lift a vehicle, not to support it. Once a vehicle is raised, it should be secured with solid, rated jack stands.
Additional precautions include chocking the wheels to prevent movement and testing the vehicle’s stability before working underneath.
