RANSHAW - A 51-year-old man, who was pulled from his burning Main Street home by firefighters Saturday morning, succumbed to his injuries early Sunday morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.
Roxie "Rocky" Bingaman, of 207 Main St., who suffered burns and smoke inhalation in the fire, died at approximately 3:30 a.m., according to his mother, Gloria Weaver of Selinsgrove.
Officials at Lehigh Valley Hospital did not confirm Bingaman's death because they said it was against their policy to do so. Efforts to reach the office of Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grimm to confirm the death were unsuccessful.
The fire broke out shortly before 7:30 a.m. and was blamed on careless smoking by the victim.
Bingaman had been rescued from the third floor of his residence by firefighters, who found the victim lying on the steps.
Bingaman, who was given CPR at the scene by emergency medical technicians, was initially transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital before being transferred by Life Flight helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Neighbors said Bingaman had difficulty walking and used bottled oxygen for breathing difficulties.
Bingaman's 46-year-old wife, Ann, who reportedly was on the first floor of the three-story structure, was able to escape unharmed and was staying with neighbors. A dog owned by the Bingamans also was uninjured.
Two neighbors, Julia "Jackie" Krepshaw and her son, Tom Krepshaw, of 209 Main St., and their two canines also escaped injury.
Fire damage, which was mostly contained to Bingaman's third-floor bedroom, was estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.
