A funeral in North Philadelphia took a tragic turn after the son of the deceased was pinned beneath his father’s coffin when a burial platform gave way, causing pallbearers to fall into the open grave.
The incident happened during the burial of Benjamin Aviles at Greenmount Cemetery. In a video that has circulated widely on news outlets including CNN and ABC News, about eight pallbearers, including Aviles’ son, were seen attempting to lower the casket when the platform suddenly collapsed, sending them crashing into the grave.
Aviles’ stepdaughter, Maribelle Rodriguez, described the scene as a “horrible incident” that happened “at a bad moment.” She recalled how the casket landed directly on her stepbrother. “The casket lay on top of him, and he was out like a light with his face in the mud,” she told ABC6.
Several pallbearers sustained injuries to their legs, hands, and backs. Rodriguez criticized the condition of the burial setup, saying, “The wood was wobbly, all wet and soaked.” She is now calling for accountability. “I think they should apologize. There should be some reimbursement, being that the ceremony was interrupted; nothing was done properly.”
Joel Winston, president and owner of Greenmount Cemetery, expressed his regret over the incident, telling CNN, “My heart goes out to them—it was an accident.” He added that it was the first time something like this happened at the cemetery.
