COSHOCTON — A worker at an AK Steel plant in eastern Ohio died early Wednesday, Feb. 20, after being crushed by a coil of steel, police said.

David Wentz, 38, of Plainfield was pronounced dead at the site by the county coroner, according to the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office, which was called to the plant at about 2 a.m.

Wentz, a maintenance technician, had worked for the company since 1996, said AK Steel spokesman Alan McCoy.

Wentz was working in a heating area at the time of the accident and the steel coil was being lowered by an overhead crane, McCoy said.

The company and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration were investigating.

AK Steel, based in West Chester Twp., also has plants in Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania. The company makes flat-rolled carbon steel, stainless and electrical steel and carbon and stainless tubular products used in cars and appliances.