Indiana man dies after shelving unit collapse in Hegewisch

A northwest Indiana man died Monday after he became trapped under heavy shelving units at a business in the Far South Side Hegewisch neighborhood.

Officers were called to the 11800 block of South Avenue O and found that some heavy shelving units had collapsed on top of the man, police said.

A commercial equipment rental agency is listed at that address, according to an online directory.

Alexander Weglarz, 43, of the 4100 block of Hohman Avenue in Hammond, Ind., was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:15 p.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

An autopsy Tuesday found he died of traumatic asphyxia caused by compression of the chest from heavy objects, the medical examiner’s office said. His death was ruled an accident.