Worker Killed, Another Injured in Ohio Construction Site Accident

One worker was killed and another injured recently in the Colerain Township area of Ohio.  Workers were replacing vinyl siding on a duplex when the tragic accident occurred.  A 30-year-old man, David Macarthy of Fairfield, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after the accident.

Rodney Whitler, 43, was injured in the accident and admitted to University Hospital.  The fatal accident occurred when high winds blew a metal pole in to power lines at the duplex.  The pole was being used to erect scaffolding for the siding job.  Both Macarthy and Whitler were working for A.E. Vinyl Siding of Cincinnati.

A third worker, Brian Stanfield, stated that the accident, although horrible, was nobody’s fault.  When the men began work, winds were calm.  According to Stanfield, as the two workers raised poles at the right side of the duplex to hold the scaffolding, the wind began to blow, blowing one of the poles in to the power lines which were also located on the right side of the building.

Whitler had severe burns to his hands and feet, but worked with Stanfield to try to resuscitate Macarthy before ambulances arrived.

Construction accidents can occur in the blink of an eye.  In this tragic accident, the power lines in to which the metal pole blew were carrying 7,200 volts of electricity.  While we typically think of construction sites as large areas where there are dozens of workers, heavy machinery and other equipment, smaller sites can prove just as dangerous and deadly.

Although Stanfield claimed the accident was nobody’s fault, it is likely that the workers would be eligible to file a workers’ compensation lawsuit.  In the case of Macarthy, who died from injuries sustained, his family might consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Learn more about Buffalo injury attorneys at Brown Chiari

The Buffalo NY construction accident lawyers at Brown Chiari are dedicated to protecting the rights of those injured in construction site accidents as well as the rights of survivors when a fatality occurs.  Contact us for a free evaluation of your case today.