Slab of marble breaks, crushing South S.L. man

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A 30-year-old worker from South Salt Lake was crushed to death on Thursday by a marble slab that broke while it was being moved.

Three employees were moving a bundle of six heavy slabs used to build kitchen counter tops when one of the slabs broke sideways and pinned the man as he stood upright, said South Salt Lake Police Lt. Gary Keller.

The South Lake Fire Department responded to the scene shortly before noon at Stone Depot, 3072 S. 300 West, and pronounced the man dead.

Keller said the man likely died on impact.

"He had very traumatic injuries to his upper body," he said.

Three years ago, a similar incident occurred at a different business in South Salt Lake while a worker moved slabs from a shipping container.

"These things are very heavy. I'm 6 feet tall and they are at least as tall as I am," Keller said.

A woman who answered the phone at Stone Depot Thursday evening could not confirm how long the man was employed at the company.

South Salt Lake Police will release the man's name once they notify his family.

— Michael Gonda