JULY 7, 2015
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
A construction worker died Tuesday afternoon while working on a project in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, officials said.
Winston-Salem police identified the worker as Dennis Michael Laney, 65, and said late Tuesday that his death had been classified as an accidental workplace death.
James Patterson, director of marketing and communications for the Innovation Quarter, said Laney, who worked for the construction company Whiting-Turner, died in an incident involving a cherry picker.
Laney’s body was on the elevated train tracks between 525@Vine and Plant 60 on Fifth Street. A blue cherry picker sat near the tracks. The tracks are part of the Rails to Trails Greenway that starts at the north end of downtown and runs along an unused rail line on Third Street.
Dispatchers got a call about the incident at 3:39 p.m.
Eric Tomlinson, president of Innovation Quarter, said he heard sirens and went to the scene.
“CPR was attempted to no avail, the site was secured, work was halted and workers left for the day,” Tomlinson said. “Our thoughts and our condolences go out to the family and those who were affected by this very tragic incident.”
Tomlinson said police inspected the cherry picker and the surrounding area to determine what caused the worker’s death.
Police said the Laney’s death was an isolated incident and that it is being investigated by the N.C. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Division.
Crews are working on Plant 60 for the future medical school for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Tomlinson said that the project is on track to be completed by July 2016.
Hospital spokeswoman Paula Faria said she does not expect Tuesday’s incident to significantly delay the project.