A Manhattan man died after he was hit by rocks during blasting at a quarry near Junction City.

The Geary County sheriff’s office says 63-year-old Stephen Hetzler died Wednesday at the Bayer Rock Quarry six miles west of Junction City.

An investigation found Hetzler was standing too close to a detonation area while using explosives to blow up rocks. He was hit by one large limestone rock and possibly several smaller rocks.

A preliminary investigation found the death was a work-related accident but Geary County, state and federal officials continue to investigate.

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Associated Press information from: KJCK-AM.