FREELAND, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — A Luzerne County man has died from injuries sustained in a house fire earlier this month.
Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio identified the victim as 55-year-old Richard L. Leepin of Freeland. Leepin was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. on March 27 at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest.
According to the coroner, an autopsy determined the cause of death to be complications from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation. The manner of death has been ruled accidental.
Officials say the fire occurred around 3 p.m. on March 14 in the 900 block of Pine Street in Freeland Borough.
The incident remains under investigation by the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, the Freeland Fire Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.