Two of the workers were repairing a cell phone tower in Clarksburg, West Virginia on Saturday about 11:30 a.m. when it collapsed. The sudden structural collapse of the tower caused them to fall between 80 and 100 feet to the ground. The fall of the tower trapped 4 other workers. A firefighter trying to help one of the workers to safety was mortally wounded when a piece of a second tower fell on him. Three other people, two cell tower workers and a firefighter, were hospitalized with injuries from the dual cell tower collapse in Clarksburg.
Authorities indicate the structural integrity of the second tower was compromised by the collapse of the first tower, causing it to fall as well. Our wrongful death attorneys for tower collapse accidents note that the cell tower site belonged to SBA Communications.
The two fatally injured cell tower workers were identified as Kyle Kirkpatrick, 32, and Terry Lee Richard, Jr., 27, both of Oklahoma. The firefighter killed in the tower collapse was identified as Michael Garrett, 28, of the Nutter Fort Volunteer Fire Department in West Virginia. (Lindsey Burnworth, WDTV.com 5 News, 2/2/14) We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who died in these tragic tower collapses. We also express our heartfelt wishes for rapid and complete recoveries to the injured victims of the Clarksburg accident.
Our wrongful death attorneys for tower collapse accidents note that structural failures take unnaturally high tolls on the lives and health of workers. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that year after year, one of the top numbers for on-the-job fatalities results from falls. These deadly falls particularly plague workers in the construction industry, but are also common in the maritime industry, and in the oil and energy sectors, including power utility and cell service utility workers who fall as structures or work platforms give way beneath them.
We will review the specific facts of the accident with you and use our more than 12 years of practical experience successfully resolving complex structural failure accident cases to evaluate your potential for a full financial recovery for the needless harm you’ve suffered.Structural collapse accidents are preventable. Learn about your legal options. Call us at 713-807-9500 or reach us anytime through our online contact form.