A 55-year-old construction worker died after being struck with a backhoe-type piece of equipment while he was working on the West Haven-New Haven line.

About the West Haven Construction Accident

The incident took place on Tuesday, June 21 after the construction worker was struck by a pay loader and, according to the West Haven Patch, somehow ended up in a truck that contained hot asphalt. The New Haven Register notes that the victim was a long-time employee of West Haven-based Pereira & Sons Construction.

The Allington Fire District and West Haven Police arrived at the construction site near 2 Boston Post Road at approximately midday. Police report that the victim suffered severe injuries from when he was struck by a backhoe-type piece of equipment. The victim was then transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries, WTNH News 8 reports.

As a result of the incident, the area was closed for several hours while police underwent an investigation. According to the Register, the city’s officials will be carrying out an independent investigation.

The victim’s identity has not yet been formally released, pending notification of his family.

Construction Accident Statistics

The following information is provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

• Fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 17 percent of all fatal work injuries in 2014.
• The leading causes of worker deaths are known as the “Fatal Four”: falls, electrocutions, struck by object and caught-in/between.
  • Falls – 359 out of 899 total deaths in construction deaths in CY 2014 (39.9%)
  • Electrocutions – 74 (8.2%)
  • Struck by Object – 73 (8.1%)
  • Caught-in/between – 12 (1.3%)
• The “Fatal Four” were responsible for well over half (57.6%) of the construction worker deaths in 2014.