Man's death in trash truck ruled accidental

MORAINE — An autopsy Thursday on the body of a 44-year-old man found dead in a pile of cardboard at a local recycling facility has revealed the man likely died from injuries he suffered after he was picked up in a recycling truck, the Montgomery County Coroner’s office said.

The death of Paul A. Wilder from multiple blunt force injuries has been ruled an accident. Coroner investigators believe he was crushed inside the truck after it retrieved a recycling-only bin that Wilder had apparently climbed into.

A more complete report from the Moraine Police Department is expected Friday.

Wilder’s last known address was the Gettysburg Gateway for Men shelter at 1921 S. Gettysburg Ave.

Wilder was found at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday among the recyclables at Newark Recycled Fibers, 2601 East River Road. However, coroner’s investigators believe Wilder might have died sometime Wednesday morning, possibly around 10:30 a.m.

Newark Recycled Fibers workers found Wilder while using a backhoe to sort cardboard mounds.

The cardboard had been hauled from Dayton companies in the past day. Wilder’s body was fully clothed when found, Moraine Det. Paul Guess said. Guess said Wilder had obvious traumatic injuries, but at the time of discovery, it was unclear whether that was the result of foul play or from being in the recycling truck.

Staff Writer Kelli Wynn contributed to this report.

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