Investigation of Notre Dame student's death continues
The investigation into the death of University of Notre Dame student Declan Sullivan of Long Grove continued Friday, and is likely still some way from its conclusion, Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials said Friday.
Sullivan, 20, died Wednesday afternoon after a tower from which he was recording the university's football team practice fell over in heavy winds.
The St. Joseph County deputy coroner said the preliminary cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
Indiana OSHA spokesman Marc Lotter said Friday investigators continue to examine the incident to determine whether any workplace violations occurred.
“It could be quite some time (before the investigation is complete),” he said.
Notre Dame's football team will wear helmet decals honoring Sullivan during its home game Saturday against the University of Tulsa. Sullivan, a student employee of the athletic department, was recording practice to help the coaching staff and players prepare for upcoming games.
The National Weather Service reported wind speeds of 33 mph with gusts reaching 51 mph at the South Bend Regional Airport at 4:54 Eastern time Wednesday, just four minutes after the accident.
School officials did not disclose the make of scissor lift Sullivan was atop when it fell over, but HHS Hire, a company that provides similar lifts, specifically states that they should never be used in wind speeds greater than 25 mph.
Visitation for Sullivan be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home at 415 S. Buesching Road in Lake Zurich.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10 N. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove.
Sullivan, a junior at the Notre Dame, was a former student of St. Mary School in Buffalo Grove and 2008 graduate of Carmel High School in Mundelein.