A tragic accident claimed the life of a 30-year-old worker on Monday, July 28, 2025, in downtown Willoughby, Ohio. The employee, working for Heritage Sign & Lighting, LLC (operating as YESCO Cleveland), was fatally injured while repairing a sign at DavEd Jewelers located at 4137 Erie Street.
The incident occurred around 9:47 a.m. when the worker was elevated in a red cherry picker lift, fixing a light on the store’s sign. A Ryder box truck collided with the lift, causing the worker to be thrown from the bucket. He landed on a parked car across the street and then fell to the ground. Despite immediate efforts by an off-duty nurse who witnessed the crash and performed CPR, the worker was transported to University Hospital Lake West Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Willoughby Police Department, led by Public Information Officer Detective Lieutenant John Begovic, reported that the worker was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest that the elbow of the cherry picker extended too far into the street, potentially contributing to the collision. The truck driver, who is cooperating with authorities, was uninjured but deeply shaken by the event. Police have stated that speed was not a factor in the crash.
Heritage Sign & Lighting, LLC, a local sign repair and installation company operating as a franchise of YESCO, released a statement expressing their grief: “It is with deep sadness that we confirm an employee tragically lost their life on Monday, July 28, 2025, while on duty at a customer site. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the employee’s family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. We are doing everything we can to support those affected by this tragedy.” The company is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, which involves the Lake County Accident Investigation Unit and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The incident led to the temporary closure of Erie Street in the Downtown Willoughby Historic District, with authorities urging the community to avoid the area. The street was expected to reopen by mid-afternoon on the day of the accident. Local business owners, including Timothy Snider of a nearby coffee shop, expressed shock and sorrow, noting that such events are rare in the typically quiet town of Willoughby.