UPDATED: Construction Worker Was Crushed to Death by Rolling Pipe

UPDATE 6 P.M.:

Novato Man ID’d in Deadly Highway 101 Construction Mishap

UPDATE 1 P.M.:

A North Bay* man died when he was crushed by a large metal pipe at a construction site west of U.S. Highway 101 in Petaluma Wednesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A forklift operator set the pipe on the ground and it rolled toward an embankment. The victim died when he tried to stop the rolling pipe, CHP Officer Kerri Post said.

According to state Division of Occupational Safety and Health officials, the incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Kastania Road.

The victim was a pipe layer, according to Post. His name was not immediately released.

Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies and Cal/OSHA are investigating the death, Post said.

* The CHP originally said the worker was a 33-year-old Santa Rosa man. They have since clarified he was 28 and from Novato.

UPDATE 10:10 A.M.:

Sonoma County sheriff’s officials tell Patch that a coroner is now on scene at the site of the deadly incident.

Sergeant Cecile Focha says the coroner arrived a short time ago, and they will handle the identification of the worker once family has been notified.

As for the circumstances leading up to the person’s death, Cal/OSHA is investigating, according to the sergeant.

ORIGINAL STORY AS FOLLOWS:

A male construction worker was killed this morning at a U.S. Highway 101 widening project south of Petaluma, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County fire and emergency dispatch center.

The accident was reported at 7:16 a.m. at Kastania Road near Petaluma Boulevard South, a dispatcher said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.