Trapped Man Dies As Excavator Falls Into Frigid Waters In Linden

LINDEN, NJ — A construction worker died Thursday morning after the excavator he was driving plunged into icy water, trapping him inside, said authorities.

Linden police and fire went to a construction site at 4900 Tremley Point Rd just after 8 a.m. to find the excavator in the Arthur Kill with the operator still trapped inside, said Linden Police Lt. Christopher Guenther.

It took about an hour to remove the man from the machine cab, said Guenther.

The United States Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, New York City Police Department Air Search & Rescue Unit, members of the New Jersey Marine Task Force, Rescue Units from the Elizabeth and Rahway Fire Departments, the Union, Cranford, and Perth Amboy Fire Departments, and Paramedics from RWJBH Rahway Hospital all helped to remove the man.

The construction worker was taken to Trinitas Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, said Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) spokeswoman Lenny Uddyback.

The identity of the construction worker was not released at this time.

OSHA is investigating the incident with the employer Simpson & Brown, which has a home office in Cranford. Uddyback said it can take up to six months for OSHA to complete its investigation.

Simpson & Brown has had a previous OSHA history including a current open case at its Avenel office where an employee was injured during an excavation on Aug. 25, 2020. Citations will be proposed in relation to this incident, said Uddyback.

The marine and civil construction company also had another case at the LaGuardia Airport Delt Parking Lot in New York City on Jan. 11, 2017. That case was closed without citations issued.

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