A Barberton man is dead following an industrial accident in Kent.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office reports that Russell Hirschfelt, 49, was crushed between a backhoe and a stack of concrete slabs.

It happened at a construction site on Erie Street Tuesday morning. Hirschfelt was taken to Akron City Hospital and died about 7 or 8 hours later. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Kent firefighters are also investigating.

Five animals died in a fire out in Kent earlier this week.

Kent Fire Officials tell the Record Courier that the flames at a house in the 300 block of Cherry Street Monday night, killed three cats and two dogs.

Firefighters were able to rescue a cat trapped inside as the crews responded at 10:40 p.m. The only resident at the home was evacuated and did not need immediate medical treatment. It took about a half hour to calm the blaze.

Fire officials say the damage is estimated at $75,000.

A cause is not known as the department continues to investigate.

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