There are many ways in which a person may prematurely lose their life. While motor vehicle accidents are a common cause, falls also account for a fair number of accidental deaths. This was sadly the case in the death of a 25-year-old man in South Pittsburgh earlier this week.

At the time the fatal accident occurred, the man was standing on the balcony of a fire escape, located three floors up. While the man was standing there something caused him to fall to the ground below. According the medical examiner's office, the man suffered trauma to his head in the fall which ultimately led to his death.

It is not clear why the man was on the fire escape, though it is known that it was not due to a fire. It is also unclear if there were other people on the balcony with him when he fell. The area in which the building is located is home to many bars and nightclubs. Whether the consumption of alcohol at any of these had anything to do with the fall is unknown.

Sometimes when these types of accidents occur it is because there is something wrong with the platform upon which the person was standing allowing it to give way. Other times, activities which are inappropriate for the location such as horseplay are being engaged in. At this point there is nothing to indicate whether either of these played a role.

An investigation which is surely being conducted should help provide answers to some of the questions regarding what happened. It could also lead to civil and criminal court cases.

Source: WFMJ, "Man, 25, dies from fire escape fall in Pittsburgh," Nov. 12, 2012