|
|
Posted: Thursday, 04 September 2008 12:01PM
Construction Worker Falls to His Death
|
NEW YORK (AP) -- A construction worker fell about 48 stories to his death Thursday at a midtown Manhattan skyscraper being built by the developer of the World Trade Center, authorities said Thursday.
The man, who was on a crew dismantling a crane, apparently fell from a walkway between the crane and the glass-walled skyscraper around 9:30 a.m., according to fire officials at the scene. He landed in a construction lot that is surrounded by a fence; his body was removed by the medical examiner's office.
An impromptu memorial service was held inside the fence.
``This happens. We live with that,'' said stoic ironworker Luis Guzman, 44, who had been getting his tools together to head to the roof when the falling man crashed nearby.
Another ironworker, Jim Bradfield, 47, said it appeared the dead man had on a safety harness.
The accident happened at 600 W. 42nd St., where trade center developer Larry Silverstein is building two 60-story apartment buildings. Construction began last fall on the development, called Silver Towers at River Place.
Silverstein referred questions to the general contractor, Gotham Construction, which didn't immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday.
More than 20 people have died in New York City construction accidents this year, including nine in two crane collapses. A window worker died last week after falling 12 stories from a Manhattan building.
The city's buildings commissioner was replaced and dozens of new construction safety rules created after the spate of accidents.
Louis Ortiz, 55, heard about Thursday's accident while walking past a cruiser with a blaring police radio, and decided to go for a look. He and his fellow bus drivers, who park nearby, had watched the crane go up, and noticed workers starting to take it down on Friday.
``In a way, it's like driving a bus,'' Ortiz said. ``Safety comes first. There is no room for error.''
|
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Audio Content and Graphic Content © MMVIII WCBS-AM 880.
|
|
|
|
E-Mail Story
Print Story
