Construction workers in New Jersey were tearing down a Blockbuster store when a tragic accident took place. They had gotten the building down to one single wall, and that wall suddenly gave way and fell over. One worker was hit by the debris, and he was trapped beneath it, lying in a trench. Rescue workers said that he died at the scene of the accident. The man was 40 years old and leaves behind a pair of children.
The accident happened around 12:30 in the afternoon. Another man was hospitalized after the wall fell down. He was also working on the site, using a backhoe. He did not get hit by the debris, but he was so shaken up by the event that he was experiencing chest pains. The crew was rounded out by another man, but that worker did not have to go to the hospital, and he did not have any reported injuries.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is doing an investigation into the incident. However, reports do seem to indicate that the company had obtained the permits that they needed, though one person was quick to point out that alone did not mean that they followed all of the safety regulations that were in place.
When construction accidents lead to injuries and even death, the investigation can be very important for the family to keep an eye on. Not only can it provide answers to many questions, but it could also provide information on whether to accept a workers’ compensation settlement or pursue litigation against an employer for negligence.
Source: NBC Philadelphia, “Blockbuster Wall Collapses During Demolition, Killing Construction Worker,” June 21, 2014