Wellington man dies in workplace accident in southeastern Ohio

A 37-year-old Lorain County man died Monday in a workplace accident in southeastern Ohio near the West Virginia border. The Wellington resident was working for a company called West Roofing Systems at the Hannibal Industrial Park in Clarington when the incident happened, according to Chief Deputy Jason Rinard, of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. He said the victim "was in an area of the roof where he wasn't supposed to be" around 10:45 a.m. and fell 60 to 70 feet to his death. Three other workers had been on the roof with him at the time. Those present gave him first aid until firefighters and paramedics took over, and by the time a medical helicopter arrived about 15 minutes later, the man had died. Rinard and others at the Monroe County Sheriff's Office refused to provide the victim's name, even though the family had been notified and the information is public record under Ohio law. An obituary in Wednesday's edition of The Chronicle-Telegram identified Adam Mills, 37, of Wellington, as an employee of West Roofing Systems who died in a workplace accident Monday. His family confirmed Thursday night that Mills was the man who died in the incident. "Adam was a gentle soul. We always talked about what a big heart he had," said his mother, Tracey Feron. Mills was a 2002 graduate of Wellington High School, had worked for West Roofing for five years, was a cat lover who was in a long-term committed relationship with his fiancé and doted on his daughter. At work, he had always been a stickler for safety rules. "Why we're all shocked is because he was very safety-oriented," Feron said. When he was on the road traveling for work, Mills longed to be home with those he loved, said his sister, Maya Feron. "He died supporting his family, and he was very family oriented," she said. "Adam was a brother, a friend, a son, a husband and a wonderful father," wrote Kelsie Dunn, a family member of Mills' fiancé, on a GoFundMe page seeking donations in his memory. "He was one of the happiest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and he loved to love." The donation page can be found at tinyurl.com/MillsFund. Public visitation for family and friends will be Saturday from 5 p.m. until the time of the funeral at 7 p.m. Rebroadcasting of services will be available at hempelfuneralhome.com. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made directly to the family. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the fall, according to Rinard.