1 Killed, 3 Injured In NYC Construction Accident
NEW YORK (CBS 2/1010 WINS/AP) -- Officials say a construction worker was killed and three others were seriously injured while they were erecting a cinderblock wall in Queens.
The accident occurred at 9:35 a.m. on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst. Emergency crews arrived on the scene a minute later and transported all the victims to Elmhurst Hospital.
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"There was a building wall that collapsed at the construction site, and it collapsed onto the scaffolding when there were probably workers working on the scaffolding. The building wall collapsed on the scaffold, made that collapse, then we had a worker trapped under the scaffolding," said FDNY Chief Robert McBride.
The FDNY said the construction worker who died was 26 years old. The other three victims were in serious condition, suffering from trauma and fractures.
Buildings Department Commissioner Eugene Corcoran said the wall was 18 feet high.
"Two were on the top portion of the wall and they were able to ride the wall down, which is quite possibly why they survived. The other two workers were on the interior side in a scaffold and they were caught in the collapse," Corcoran said.
Witness Jim Demetrio, who works next door to the site, heard the commotion and saw how the accident unfolded.
"It was absolutely terrible. The workers were trapped and other workers were trying to get them out," Demetrio said.
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