Kearneysville, WV-- A construction worker was killed outside the Internal Revenue Service Enterprise Computing Center near Kearneysville on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, when a drilling rig toppled over and killed the man on impact, reports the Herald-Mail.
The victim was working with three other men when the fatal construction accident occurred at 11:12 a.m., off Murall Drive. The victim was killed on impact when the rig he was operating fell over, pinning him underneath the cab area of the rig. The U.S. General Services Administration is withholding the identity of the victim.
The sister of the victim, Julie Lippincott, identified him as Doug Lippincott of Pittsburgh.
McKinney Drilling Co. reportedly employed the victim.
Joel P. Zingeser of Grunley Construction said, “The rig operator was drilling a caisson as part of foundation work with a truck-mounted apparatus that was operating on a turntable. Upon removing the drill from a hole and turning the rig to ‘shake the drill clean,’ the turntable either slid off or broke, causing the equipment collapse.”
A crane was reportedly used to remove the victim from underneath the rig.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the fatal construction accident.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for West Virginia construction accident attorneys.
