PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A family mourns the loss of a man who died in a construction-related accident last week.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that Tennessee is among the states with the highest number of construction-related fatalities, with 43 in 2022 alone.
Kyle Lesko was described as a great guy to have around and a handyman. That's especially how his son, Kane, remembers him. The pair were roommates.
"Every time we got a moment to breathe, we'd be playing pool," Kane said.
However, last Wednesday, Kyle didn't come home from his construction job. Kane said that a deputy called him and told him to come to an area hospital.
"He came up and shook my hand and said, 'I'm sorry, son, your father's passed away,' and I was a bit devastated," Kane added. "But I had to stay strong to make sure everybody else got informed."
Investigators said Kyle had been working on the roof of a home in Baxter when temporary trusses collapsed.
Kane told News 2 he feels support from the community and he's trying to be there for his family, too.
"They're hanging in there and staying strong, they're basically doing all they can to prepare themselves for going on [through] the rest of life without him," Kane said.
His younger sister says she's not ready to talk on camera, but through text told News 2 that her dad was one-of-a-kind. She added that she'll continue sharing the kindness he taught her.
"Any time he could do something for somebody, he would always do it, whether it be helping people out locally or building houses for people on his construction crew," Kane said.
A celebration of life for Kyle is scheduled for noon this Saturday at Cookeville's Life Church.