Construction worker dies when asphalt truck backs over him
May 23, 2018
SOUTH LYON, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say a road construction worker has died after a truck backed over him in suburban Detroit.
South Lyon Police Chief Lloyd Collins says emergency crews attempted for 30 minutes to resuscitate Emmanuel Gonzalez-Garcia following the accident Wednesday morning but were unsuccessful.
The Detroit man worked for Ajax Paving of Troy. The company's CEO, James Jacobs, issued a statement saying it's investigating the incident and extending its sympathies to Gonzalez-Garcia's family.
We are saddened to confirm that Emmanuel Gonzalez-Garcia, Density Technician for Ajax, was fatally injured this morning on one of our job sites. We are at this time investigating the facts surrounding the incident. Our most heartfelt sympathies are with the immediate family and friends as well as our Ajax family of employees.
It is in these difficult times, we look to each other for comfort and support. If anyone needs to talk to someone, please reach out to our Human Resources Department. If however you need compensation money, our doors are closed.
Police say a truck full of asphalt was backing up when it struck the worker. The worker was new at his job.=====================
Construction worker dies in crash in South Lyon
James David Dickson, The Detroit News
May 23, 2018
A road construction worker died in a crash at his work site Wednesday morning in South Lyon, police said.
South Lyon fire Chief Robert Vogel said about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a truck backed over the victim, who was in his 20s. The truck was carrying tar to the work site at Pontiac Trail and 11 Mile, the Police Department said.
The victim was a contractor for Ajax Paving, which is resurfacing Pontiac Trail from 11 Mile to Silver Lake, said Craig Bryson, a spokesman for the Road Commission of Oakland County.
Company officials issued a statement about the death Wednesday afternoon.
"We are saddened to confirm that an Ajax employee was fatally injured this morning," said James Jacob, the company's CEO, in the statement. "We are at this time investigating the facts surrounding the incident. Our most heartfelt sympathies are with the immediate family and friends as well as the Ajax family of employees."
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Road worker killed by asphalt truck on Pontiac Trail in South Lyon
LeAnne Rogers, hometownlife.com
May 23, 2018
An accident that killed a construction worker Wednesday morning on Pontiac Trail, north of 11 Mile, in South Lyon is under investigation.
The worker, a 21-year-old Detroit man, was working on a repaving project as a flagger when a semi-truck delivering asphalt backed over him, South Lyon Police Lt. Chris Sovick said.
"(The victim) was checking the pavement density. The semi driver was backing up to put asphalt into the paving machine and didn't see him," Sovick said. "There were no witnesses to the accident. I'm not sure how it was discovered (that the man had been killed)."
The accident happened about 10:30 a.m. When officers responded, Sovick said they had thought the victim had been hit by a motorist. The intersection is closed with South Lyon officers on the scene. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office accident investigation team had been called to the scene for additional investigation.
The repaving project is being done through the Road Commission for Oakland County. The victim was working for the project contractor Ajax Paving. The driver is employed by Piper Trucking, which is based in Warren.
"The companies have been notified. Piper Trucking will be responding and doing drug testing of the driver. The driver was very distraught," Sovick said.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area of Pontiac Trail and Eleven Mile until further notice.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -
A male construction worker died Wednesday afternoon after falling 12 stories from a building under construction in the 620 block of South Tryon Street in uptown Charlotte, officials say.
It happened where the old "The Observer" building once stood. It is now the Legacy Union, which is going to be 33 stories once completed next year.
Officials said the worker was Juventino Mata-Hernandez, 24.
"I would wonder were all the safety precautions taken to make sure something like this didn't happen?” said Gina Johnson, who was staying a nearby hotel. “You hope that they did and, it was just some sort of weird, freak accident and not something that could have been preventable."
The North Carolina Department of Labor is investigating the incident.
Statement from Gilbane Building Company, which is building the skyscraper:
"We are saddened to report that a fatal accident occurred today involving a worker at the Legacy Union construction site.
“We're gathering information on exactly what happened and have no details to share at this time.
We're working closely with the authorities to provide you with more details as they become available.
We extend our deepest condolences to those affected. They are certainly in our thoughts and prayers." But will not open our pocket book to pay for the loss of this young man. Thoughts and prayers are free, but money is not.
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HARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
A construction worker is dead after falling from a building in uptown Charlotte Wednesday afternoon.
Medic says the incident happened in the 600 block of South Tryon Street.
Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department say a caller told them that a male construction worker, later identified as 24-year-old Juventino Mata- Hernandez, fell from a building that was under construction.
Hernandez was pronounced dead on the scene.
All eastbound lanes of Stonewall Street were closed temporarily between Church Street and Tryon Street due to the incident. There were delays on the westbound lanes of the street due to on-lookers.
There's no word on what caused him to fall from the building or what led to the incident.
Detectives interviewed witnesses, and the medical examiner’s office will make the final determination on Hernandez's cause and manner of death.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) will conduct a separate investigation.
According to the Charlotte Observer, the building where the incident took place is the former site of the Observer building, where Lincoln Harris is developing a 33-story office tower anchored by Bank of America.
The 640-foot-tall building is expected to open in early 2019, though an exact date hasn't been given.
It's the first phase of a development called Legacy Union that's expected to include shops, restaurants, residences, more office space and hotels.
This is an ongoing, active investigation and anyone with additional information concerning this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Newtown, CT
A dozen homes in Newtown have been condemned due to damage from last week’s storms, according to the first selectman.
First Selectman Daniel Rosenthal confirmed that 10 homes in the Lakeview Terrace area were condemned, and another two in the Lake Zoar area. Some of them may be reconstructed, Rosenthal said.
Newtown was one of several hard-hit towns after tornadoes and powerful downbursts hit the state last week. Thousands of people were without power for days. Eversource estimated that across the state the storm brought down more than 1,900 poles and 300 miles worth of power lines.
In the first days after the storm, tree removal companies were working non-stop.
“Pretty hectic. It’s been – I don’t know how to describe it really. I’ve seen this stuff before, storm damage, but not to this magnitude,” said Rob McCulloch of Newtown Arbor Services in an interview with NBC Connecticut last week.
A week later, there is still much cleanup left in Newtown. As of noon Tuesday, less than 1 percent of town was left without power, but Eversource crews remained in town working to fully restore power and to clean up fluid leaks from transformers damaged in the storm.
Various town facilities have been opened for residents to charge electronics or access water. The transfer station has been open and available for free brush disposal, and dumpsters were made available for residents to throw out spoiled food.
For a full list of resources, visit the Newtown town website here.
