Sunday, November 5, 2017

Worker Clarence "Cory" Hale, 48, with Multi-Craft Contractors, Inc. died when a piece of a crane (25 ft. long) fell, pinning him to the ground in Washington County, Arkansas









NEWS RELEASE:

On Thursday, November 2, 2017 at approximately 3:45 p.m., the Sheriff's Office was notified by Central EMS that they were responding to an unresponsive male who had been struck with a large piece of equipment at 17614 Clearwater Road in the Wheeler community.

Upon deputies arrival, they discovered employees with Multi-Craft Contractors were working on a radio tower at this location and were in the process of setting up a large crane to work on the tower. The crane was set and leveled and they were in the process of putting the boom together. During this process, a piece of the crane (25 ft. long) fell, striking the victim and pinning him to the ground.

The victim, identified as Clarence "Cory" Hale, W/M, 48 of West Fork, was transported by Central EMS to Washington Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

The body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to confirm cause of death.


Multi-Craft's diversified workforce is comprised of over 600 expert craftspeople; with an offering of mechanical, electrical contracting and specialized services, we provide a 360-degree approach for comprehensive contracting solutions.


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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA) - A West Fork man has died after being injured in an on-the-job crane accident.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) says Clarence "Cory" Hale, 48, was struck around 3:45 p.m. Thursday when a piece of the crane (25 ft. long) fell, pinning him to the ground. He was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

The scene of the accident was 17614 Clearwater Rd. in the Wheeler community.

The WCSO says Hale was part of a crew with Multi-Craft Contractors who were in the process of setting up a large crane to work on a tower.

The crane was set and leveled and they were in the process of putting the boom together when a part fell and struck Hale.

The company says Hale's coworkers are devastated by the loss.

Insurers are working with the employees to maintain their safety, according to the company.



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SPRINGDALE, Ark. —

A worker for Multi-Craft Contractors (MCC) in Springdale died on the job Thursday, company president Rick Barrows told 40/29.

Clarence "Cory" Hale was setting up a crane at a work site when an accident occurred.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department said a chunk of crane fell, pinning Hale to the ground. When Hale's family arrived at the hospital, he had already died.

Multi-Craft Contractors "spends a lot of time on safety, and is actively participating in the investigation to find out what happened," Barrows said.

Barrows sent 40/29 news the following statement:

“Multi-Craft Contractors lost a friend and co-worker yesterday in a tragic accident. He represented the best of us in his attitude, work ethic, and friendship. We are devastated by this tragedy and that it occurred in spite of our best efforts to train and work safely. We are working with authorities to determine the cause. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for his family at this time.”

Hale will be missed by family and friends, including next-door neighbor Philip Fredericks.

"He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Fredericks. "He is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back. He's like a brother to me."

"He was an amazingly hard-working man," Hale's wife told 40/29. "The love he had for our family was genuine and without fail. He will be missed by many people."



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WHEELER (KFSM) -- A Multi-Craft Contractors, Inc. employee died Thursday afternoon (Nov. 2) on a job site north of Wheeler, according to company president Rick Barrows.



Barrows said employee Cory Hale, 48, was setting up a crane when the accident took place.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office was notified by Central EMS that they were responding to an unresponsive male who had been hit by a large piece of equipment.

The employees were working on a radio tower and were in the process of setting up a large crane to work on the tower. The crane was set and leveled and they were putting the boom together. A piece of crane fell, hitting the victim and pinning him to the ground, the sheriff's office said.

Barrows said the company is devastated by the loss of one of their team members.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Hales' wife, Gay Lynn Hale said her husband was an amazingly hard-working man. "The love he had for our family was genuine and without fail. He will be greatly missed by many people."