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The girl was riding on a forklift with a relative when the machine toppled over, according to state police. The girl became pinned under the forklift and died on her family's farm at 378 Bunker Hill Road, officials said.
Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said the girl had been pulled out from under the lift when deputy coroner Dave Schmitt arrived at the scene. The impact likely killed the girl immediately, officials said.
Schmitt pronounced the girl dead soon after the 2:40 p.m. incident, and her body was taken to the Lancaster County morgue.
Police and the coroner declined to identify the girl Tuesday.
An external exam of the girl's body is scheduled for this morning, the coroner said. If that exam doesn't determine what killed the girl, further tests will be performed, Diamantoni said.
"Depending on what we see, we will make that decision" after the external viewing, Diamantoni said Tuesday evening.
The incident happened on the Esh farm, just south of Strasburg Borough. The girl was riding on the lap of a 16-year-old boy — either her brother or an uncle. The lift traveled over an embankment and toppled, according to police.
Police said the girl was "crushed" after she was ejected from the forklift's seat.
E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com
