A Pennsylvania coroner ruled that a college baseball player died by mistake when a makeshift dugout collapsed and he was hit in the face.
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania — A college baseball player has died after being hit in the face when a makeshift dugout he was helping to dismantle collapsed on him this week.
19-year-old Angel Mercado was a middle class player who had just finished his freshman season at Division II Pennsylvania Central College. He played in the Summer Recreation League whose games and practices were held on a park in Harrisburg.
Mercado’s coach had built a makeshift dugout out of wood on Sunday, but city officials told him that wasn’t allowed. Mercado was among a group of players dismantling the structure on Monday afternoon when it unexpectedly collapsed and hit him in the face.
Mercado suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday. The Cumberland County coroner’s office ruled the death an accident.
“Nothing criminal happened here,” city spokesman Matt Maisel said. “No charges will be filed against the coach. No charges will be brought against anyone. This is just a tragedy.”
During the school’s commencement ceremony Thursday night, some students paid tribute to Mercado by wearing his initials and baseball jersey number on their graduation attire.