A New Boston man died Monday, Feb. 9, at his home when an excavator malfunctioned, striking him with its bucket, according to New Boston police.

John B. Zyla, 38, of 306 Wilson Hill Road, was near the Caterpillar excavator while his lifelong friend, Wayne Nichols, 38, of 151 Kimball Pond Road in Dunbarton was using it to push over some trees in the backyard of the New Boston home.

Around 10:30 a.m., the hydraulics controlling the boom of the excavator malfunctioned without any warning, causing the bucket to fall and hit Zyla, according to police. “The driver made all efforts to correct,” said New Boston police Cpl. Richard Widener. “It was one of those accidents. There was no warning.”

Zyla was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative of state Medical Examiner’s Office. The boom was removed by the New Boston highway and fire departments.

State and local authorities have concluded the incident was an accident.

“At this stage in the investigation there are no charges pending and there does not appear to be any negligence on the part of the operator,” police said in a statement.

Representatives of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration showed up but did not participate in the investigation because Nichols was doing the work as a friend and had not been hired as a contractor by Zyla, according to Widener.

Zyla is the son of John T. and Dorothy Zyla of Goffstown and served as warehouse manager at his family’s business, John Zyla Inc. in Merrimack.

Calling hours will be Thursday, Feb. 12, from 4 to 8 p.m., at French and Rising Funeral Home in Goffstown. Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home.