SUGARCREEK TWP. — UPDATE @ 2:50 p.m.:
Construction worker Rene Flores, 46, of Columbus died Monday morning after falling off the roof while working to complete apartments at the White Oakes Landing development.
>> Centerville schools treasurer dies after bicycle accident
The developer is Cleveland-based Redwood Acquisition LLC, and the contractor hired to build the development is Pride One Construction based out of Medina.
Brett McWilliams, Pride One Construction project manager, said his company is working with the authorities to learn more about what happened.
“We are truly, deeply saddened by this situation. Our hearts go out to his family and the people he was working with,” McWilliams said.
Kris Conwill, chief product officer for Redwood Living, Inc., said it appears to have been an “unfortunate accident.”
“We work with our vendor patners to ensure safety measures are complied with and followed and that they meet all required regulations,” Conwill said.
INITIAL REPORT:
A construction worker who died Monday morning after falling off the roof of an apartment complex in Sugarcreek Twp. was wearing a safety harness, but was not hooked up to a lanyard, Fire Chief Jeff Leaming said.
LOCAL WEATHER: Track the latest conditions with Live Doppler 7 Radar
Police and medics responded around 8:30 a.m. to the Redwood Apartments near Center Point Drive in Sugarcreek Twp. on reports of a construction worker who suffered serious injuries in a fall.
>>TRENDING: Road rage incident escalates to shooting on I-75 in Miami Twp.
The worker, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other constructions workers were on the roof with the victim. but were on the other side of the roof when they realized they couldn’t hear the victim working anymore, Leaming said. When they checked on the worker, they realized he had fallen.
It’s estimated that the worker fell between 7 and 8:30 a.m. The exact time is not known because no one witnesses it.
Previously, an Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesperson said the worker was employed by Columbus-based Santiago Cleaning. However, further investigation by OSHA revealed the worker was not employed by that company, the spokesperson said.
OSHA investigators declined further comment.
Harnesses were visible on the roof; however, it was not immediately known if the worker was using a harness when the incident happened.
Sugarcreek Twp. police and fire investigators also declined to issue additional details on the incident.
We’ll continue to update this story as new details become available.