Toledoan dies trying to chip away ice

1/14/2001

A West Toledo man died Friday from head injuries suffered Wednesday when he fell from a ladder as he was chipping ice from the gutters of his single-story home, authorities said.

Jack Kridel, 74, of 4124 Bowen Rd., a professional sign painter of 30 years, was pronounced dead at 4:50 p.m. Friday at Toledo Hospital, where he was admitted Wednesday afternoon.

An autopsy showed that head injuries suffered in the fall were the cause of death, Dr. Diane Barnett, a Lucas County deputy coroner, said.

Mr. Kridel was standing on a 6-foot aluminum ladder and was chipping ice with a hammer about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday when he fell about five feet to the ground, Dr. Barnett said.