A California construction worker is dead after falling from a bridge over the 91 Freeway on May 18. The man reportedly fell during the early morning hours as he was participating in demolition activities. Official reports show that the preventable death occurred when a portion of the railroad bridge buckled from beneath the 59-year-old victim. The accident caused traffic to be obstructed in both directions on that road for several hours in the Riverside area.
Authorities say that the victim was a subcontractor worker who was harnessed to the bridge at the time of the incident. A portion of the bridge twisted as it fell, and it swung the man to the pavement below. The road was closed because of the demolition, so it does not appear that any vehicles were involved in the fatal accident.
Emergency responders were reportedly dispatched to the scene of the accident at about 3:20 a.m., and the victim was transported to the Riverside Community Hospital shortly thereafter. He died because of the severe injuries he suffered in the fatal accident, passing away less than an hour after the incident occurred. That victim reportedly worked for a subcontracting group called Hard Rock. It is not entirely clear what the man was doing when the fatal accident occurred.
The accident is still ostensibly under investigation from safety officials. The worker was harnessed, which means that at least some safety precautions were in effect. Even if the company that employed the man is not accused of safety violations, some officials and the company itself could be sued for wrongful death in connection with the incident. Family members deserve financial compensation after their relative is killed in a horrific workplace accident. Learn more by speaking with a qualified wrongful death lawyer in Irvine.
Source: San Bernardino County Sun, “Road worker from Long Beach killed in fall from partial bridge collapse over 91 Freeway in Riverside” No author given, May. 18, 2014