OAKMONT, Pa.,None — An Oakmont man is in critical condition after he fell while working on the roof of his California Avenue home Monday morning.
Neighbors said Elmer W. Zeis, 63, has been working on the roof of his 114 California Ave. for a while and is always doing home repairs.
Police aren't sure whether Zeis fell from the roof or scaffolding that was set up beside the red brick house with a high roof.
A next door neighbor happened to be walking past the house when he saw Zeis was injured and called 911, Oakmont police chief David DiSanti said.
Lower Valley paramedics responded from their local substation within minutes of the 11:30 a.m. 911 call, police said. Zeis was taken by ambulance to UPMC Presbyterian.
DiSanti said Zeis suffered severe trauma, was bleeding profusely and was conscious but mumbling.
"Thank God the neighbor found him," DiSanti said.
Zeis fell onto a pavement sidewalk, DiSanti said.
"He took a pretty nasty fall," DiSanti said.
Neighbors describe him as a handyman who's always working.
"You can hear him out there (at) 7 a.m.," said Tina Springer, who has lived next door for two years.
"He helped everybody who needed help," neighbor Pam Bergamasco said.
Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.
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