Authorities confirmed Monday that a 55-year-old Luzerne County man has passed away from injuries sustained in a residential fire earlier this month. The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Richard L. Leepin of Freeland. Leepin had been undergoing treatment at the Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest burn unit for nearly two weeks following the blaze.
The fire broke out on March 14 at a home located on the 900 block of Pine Street in Freeland. At the time of the incident, the Freeland Fire Department reported that Leepin managed to escape the burning structure on his own, but he suffered significant burns during the process. Despite specialized medical care, he succumbed to those injuries over the weekend.
The coroner has officially ruled the death accidental, citing complications from thermal injuries. However, a comprehensive investigation into the cause and origin of the fire remains active.
