1 Killed, 3 Hurt In Construction Accident At UC San Diego

LA JOLLA, CA – Four laborers were injured Thursday, one fatally, in an accident at a construction site at UC San Diego, authorities reported.

The men were helping build a mixed-use project called North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood near Mandler Hall at the La Jolla-area campus when a rebar wall frame collapsed onto them shortly before 8:30 a.m., according to university officials and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Medics took the four Clark Construction employees to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, one with major head trauma and the others with minor injuries, UCSD spokeswoman Christine Clark said.

One of the workers was pronounced dead at the hospital later in the morning, said Frank Polizzi of the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA. The name of the victim was withheld pending family notification.

Work at the construction site was halted for the day due to the accident, Clark said.

Cal/OSHA will investigate the case and determine within six months whether any citations are warranted, Polizzi said.

Carlos Gonzalez, senior vice president of Clark Construction Group, said the firm had started its own investigation into the accident and was "cooperating with the proper authorities."

"We take all matters involving the safety of our workforce, our job sites and the public seriously," Gonzalez said. "Our deepest sympathies are with (the deceased worker's) family, friends and co-workers during this incredibly difficult time."

– City News Service