CHARLOTTE, N.C. - One worker died, and another was seriously injured, after an accident at a construction site in southwest Charlotte.
The victims were injured while working on a Choate Construction project in Steele Creek and fell about 40 feet. Officials with the company said they are trying to determine how the accident occurred.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said that OSHA is investigating the accident.
Police said one worker died at the hospital and the other worker is in stable condition.
Officials said they were called out for traumatic injuries that occurred in the 3700 block of Westinghouse Boulevard.
Numerous fire and police crews converged on the scene.
Investigators focused on the area around a crane.
There's a sign at the construction site noting that a Staples is coming soon.
Choate Construction is the general contractor on the project. Merriman Schmitt Architects is the architect and Burton Engineering is the civil engineer.
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CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) - A construction worker died and another was seriously injured in an industrial accident in southwest Charlotte Sunday afternoon, police say.
The accident happened on the construction site for the Staples Distribution Center in the 3700 block of Westinghouse Boulevard by Choate Construction.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, two people fell about 40 feet while working on the site. Both were taken to Carolinas Medical Center Main where the first victim was pronounced deceased. The second victim is now stable.
Choate Construction Company was founded in 1989, based on the philosophy of excellence over volume. The mission of Choate Construction Company is to provide unparalleled quality and service, coupled with maximum return on investment, resulting in the optimal facilities solution to enhance the success of the Client. Choate is one of the largest general contractors in the Southeast specializing in Preconstruction, Design-Build, LEED Programming/implementation and Construction Management services for multiple market sectors.
Choate Construction Company became a USGBC member company in April of 2003 by the U.S. Green Building Council and has 38 LEED APs throughout the company. Choate is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute and CoreNet.
Choate’s number one asset is Reputation and bases its future on the basis of client recommendations. Choate has earned a substantial base of repeat clients and new business generated from enthusiastic referrals from these repeat clients.
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$40M Staples distribution facility underway on Westinghouse Boulevard
The Keith Corp. is developing a 600,000-square-foot build-to-suit for Staples on Westinghouse Boulevard.
By Ashley Fahey – Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal
Jun 27, 2017, 2:59pm
A large tract of land off Westinghouse Boulevard has been confirmed as the site of a 600,000-square-foot, build-to-suit industrial building for Staples.
TKC CCLI LLC, affiliated with Charlotte developer The Keith Corp., recently acquired 77.5 acres at 3719 Westinghouse Blvd. The real estate firm is developing a $40 million distribution center for Staples (NYSE:SPLS) on the site, according to Alan Lewis, development partner at The Keith Corp.
The Charlotte Business Journal previously reported that Staples was the rumored tenant at Project Hollywood, which called for a 600,000-square-foot distribution facility on the site The Keith Corp. recently acquired.
The Keith Corp. acquired about half of the site, which totals 154 acres, for $4.3 million on June 20, according to Mecklenburg County real estate records. The seller was Westinghouse Real Estate Development LLC, affiliated with Peter Gilchrist III.
The estimated $40 million project is expected to deliver in April, Lewis said. The Framingham, Mass., retailer currently operates three distribution centers in the Charlotte region.
Staples could not be reached by deadline for more details about the distribution facility.
Lewis said The Keith Corp. had an option-to-purchase agreement for the property. The firm has been marketing the site, which is split by a Norfolk Southern Railway right of way, for two development opportunities. The distribution center under construction is a realized vision for one part of the land, and Lewis said The Keith Corp. is in planning phases for the remaining portion of the property.
Choate Construction is the general contractor on the project. Merriman Schmitt Architects is the architect and Burton Engineering is the civil engineer.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Okla. – It was a crash that stunned an Oklahoma community earlier this year.
On Sept. 17, troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol were called to an accident around 10:40 p.m. on the Welling Bridge near Tahlequah.
Investigators say a pickup truck carrying five teenagers drove through a railing on the bridge and fell 35 feet into the river below.
Crews pulled the bodies of 18-year-old Donovan Caldwell, 18-year-old Jessica Swartwout, 19-year-old Drake Wells, 18-year-old Lily Murphy and 18-year-old Rihana Seely from the vehicle.
Friends tell News 4 the group was out celebrating Wells' 19th birthday. Officials say all five teenagers were students at Northeastern State University.
"I cannot fathom the pain the families and friends of these young people are going through as a result of this terrible and tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them this morning," a statement from the president of NSU read, in part.
"This will have a profound effect on all of us and Northeastern State University for many years to come. Supporting our students, faculty and staff will remain our top priority."
Now, it seems that troopers have a few more answers into what happened in the moments before the deadly crash.
On Wednesday, officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol announced that Caldwell was likely speeding when he tried to negotiate a curve. However, the roadway was wet and his truck slid into the guardrail.
Investigators say Caldwell was not impaired, but was simply going too fast for the road conditions.
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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Hundreds gathered to pay their respects to five students who died when a pickup crashed into a river in Cherokee County.
It was supposed to be a celebration.
Friends say 18-year-old Donovan Caldwell, 18-year-old Jessica Swartwout, 19-year-old Drake Wells, 18-year-old Lily Murphy and 18-year-old Autumn Seely were out celebrating Wells’ 19th birthday on Sunday.
Around 10:40 p.m. on Sunday, investigators say Caldwell was driving down Wellings Bridge when he allegedly lost control of his pickup.
The truck veered and crossed over the northbound lane and through the railing, falling about 35 feet into the Illinois River.
Sadly, the crash killed all five teenagers inside the truck.
“We left chapter around like 9:45, so it was like, man, between that time, like how did all this just happen?” Tim Gardenhigh told KFOR on Monday.
The news sent shockwaves through the Northeastern State University campus.
“When I found out, I was just devastated. I knew it was Donovan,” said Nicholas Young.
On Monday night, hundreds of students and staff members gathered to remember those who were taken too soon at a candlelight vigil.
Also, university officials added the students’ names to the student memorial bench that is tucked away on NSU’s campus.
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Five teenagers killed after speeding pickup truck crashes through guardrail, falls into river
September 18, 2017
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Okla. – A community is in shock following the deaths of five teenagers near Tahlequah.
Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol were called to an accident around 10:40 p.m. on Sunday night on the Welling Bridge.
Investigators say a pickup truck carrying five teenagers drove through a railing on the bridge and fell 35 feet into the river below.
Crews pulled the bodies of 18-year-old Donovan Caldwell, 18-year-old Jessica Swartwout, 19-year-old Drake Wells, 18-year-old Lily Murphy and 18-year-old Rihana Seely from the vehicle.
Officials say all five teenagers were students at Northeastern State University.
“Just before 1:00 am, I was contacted by Campus Police and informed that five NSU students were killed in an auto accident in proximity to the Welling Bridge, south of Tahlequah. The news was devastating and crushing.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports the driver was 18-year-old Donovan Caldwell of Muskogee. The passengers were identified as 18-year-old Jessica Swartwout of McAlester; 19-year-old Drake Wells of Thackerville; 18-year-old Rhianna Seely of Salina and 18-year-old Lily Murphy of Gentry, AR. Their families have been notified.
I cannot fathom the pain the families and friends of these young people are going through as a result of this terrible and tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them this morning.
Activities have been underway throughout the night to provide counselors for the friends and co-students. Notification of the faculty who taught the students is underway. If you feel you need help in any way, please contact HawkReach Counseling Services at 918-444-2042 or Student Affairs at 918-444-2120. I have every confidence in the compassion of the NSU family to pull together and support those who are experiencing so much pain and sadness.
This will have a profound effect on all of us and Northeastern State University for many years to come. Supporting our students, faculty and staff will remain our top priority.
The NSU Community will be updated regarding memorial services and other related details as they become available,” a statement from the president of NSU read.
At this point, what caused the crash is still under investigation. However, it appears that the teen driver was speeding for the road conditions and failed to negotiate the curve, eventually hitting the guardrail and plunging into the river. He will not do that again.
A candlelight vigil is planned for Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at Second Century Square on the NSU campus.
The moral of the story is: SPEED KILLS. SLOW DOWN!
NEWCASTLE, Iron County, Utah —
Five people are dead after a head-on collision involving two SUVs late Saturday afternoon, officials report.
At around 4:30 p.m., an SUV traveling west on state Route 56 and an SUV heading east crashed into each other just one mile outside of Newcastle, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. One of the vehicles had four occupants, with only one occupant in the other. All five occupants died, UHP said.
Police could not immediately confirm whether the occupants died at the scene or were transported to a hospital and later died from their injuries.
The area near the crash had no cellular service and more information is expected to be released on the collision when troopers who responded to the crash have cell service.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
A workplace death at Lafarge Precast Edmonton has triggered an investigation by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.
OHS confirmed a worker died at the concrete facility on Saturday morning but declined to provide further details about the victim or what happened.
A spokesperson for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services said firefighters were called to the scene around 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
They arrived to find the man already deceased beneath some concrete rubble. The scene was held until OHS investigators arrived.
A crane operator from Lafarge was on-scene to help remove the rubble.
No details were given about what happened or whether any other employees were on-scene when the man died.
Lafarge Precast Edmonton is located at 4425 92nd Avenue.
Police were also called to the scene.
A spokesperson for Lafarge said the company is cooperating with the investigation.
'Things have been frightening': traffic flaggers rally after worker hit by car
'Anybody in this industry has had close calls. We've come home shaking,' says rally organizer
By Jaimie Kehler, CBC News
November 25, 2017
Around 100 flaggers lined Highway 97 near 16th Avenue in Vernon on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 to urge drivers to ensure the safety of the workers. (Castanet)
About 100 traffic control workers in Vernon, B.C., lined a local highway Saturday to rally for driver awareness after a flagger was seriously injured when hit by a car earlier this month.
On Nov. 17, the female flagger was injured just east of Vernon when a driver failed to stop near an active work site.
Flaggers in B.C. say they are worried about their safety due to drivers who speed or are distracted. (Castanet)
The woman was air-lifted to Kelowna General Hospital where she remains "fighting very hard," according to the organizer of Saturday's rally.
"Friday was just a horrible, horrible accident," said Michelle Hudson, owner of Integrity Traffic Control Training.
"We have a fellow traffic control person that is seriously injured and we also have a motorist that probably can't even look themselves in the mirror right now."
'Driving a weapon'
Hudson asked flaggers, first responders, tow truck drivers and others who work on local highways to take part in the demonstration Saturday morning.
Participants lined both sides of Highway 97 near 16th Avenue. Many held signs with with the word "slow" on them.
"We are on the road every day and we really need our communities to support us," she said.
"I think anybody in this industry has had close calls. We've come home shaking or stood on the side of the road with tears rolling down our face just because things have been frightening."
Flaggers held up personal messages at a rally in Vernon B.C. on Nov. 25, 2017. (Castanet)
While she says many drivers obey traffic control signs and even politely wave at flaggers, others are in a hurry or texting behind the wheel.
"When we're distracted behind a vehicle, we're actually driving a weapon. That is a large piece of equipment that's coming towards roadside workers," she said. Hudson said events were also planned in Prince George and Quesnel
