Wednesday, April 15, 2015

CONSTRUCTION WORKER CRUSHED TO DEATH BY ROLLING PIPE AT HWY 101 WIDENING PROJECT IN SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA





APRIL 15, 2015

PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA

A 33-year old construction worker was killed this morning at a U.S. Highway 101 widening project south of Petaluma, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County fire and emergency dispatch center.
The accident was reported at 7:16 a.m. at Kastania Road near Petaluma Boulevard South, a dispatcher said.

Worker crushed to death by falling pipe at Petaluma construction site http://t.co/MKYp9tNyhL
— The Press Democrat (@NorthBayNews) April 15, 2015

The 33-year-old man was crushed by the huge pipe and died in the 7:15 a.m. accident, which occurred just west of the highway near the new Petaluma Boulevard South overpass. 

An initial investigation showed the man was working as a pipe layer in a dirt construction area.  He’d been standing by while a forklift operator moving a large metal pipe encased in concrete set the pipe down onto the ground, CHP Officer Kerri Post said. 

The pipe began to roll down the embankment and preliminary information indicated the man attempted to stop it but the size and weight were too much and it rolled over him, Post said. 

Following the incident, as law enforcement investigated, the body of the worker remained on the hillside, covered with a white cloth. A white helmet lay on the ground, several feet away.

His name wasn’t being released pending notification of his family. 

He was working on a Highway 101 project, involving improving the frontage road where Petaluma Boulevard South connects with Kastania Road. The work is being done by Maggiora-Ghilotti Inc., a longstanding Marin County construction firm. 

Calls for help to the site came at about 7:15 a.m., with reports of a worker initially trapped underneath a pipe. About 10 minutes later, reports indicated the worker had died. 

The incident unfolded within view, just uphill, of passing highway motorists.
Cal Fire, Petaluma and San Antonio firefighters, an ambulance and medical helicopter were sent to the incident. A Novato fire battalion chief, CHP and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office also responded. 

Cal-Osha, the state agency, which investigates workplace injuries, was notified, Post said.
Source: http://www.pressdemocrat.com