Woman Killed In Construction Accident On Pitt Campus: Police

PITTSBURGH, PA — A woman was killed Friday when she was struck by a steel drum after it escaped a construction site near Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, according to police.

Pittsburgh police said the incident happened around 10:40 a.m. in the 3700 block of Terrace Street. Police said the woman was walking with her co-workers when a large metal drum broke free from a construction site, rolled down the hill, broke through fencing and hit the woman on the sidewalk.

The drum continued to roll across the street before finally coming to rest against a pick-up truck, police said.

Medics were at the scene within minutes and provided aid to the woman, who suffered significant head injuries. She was pronounced dead at 10:45 a.m., police said.

According to a TribLive report, the drum escaped the construction site of the University of Pittsburgh’s new sports performance center.

Previous reports said the woman worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; however, a spokesperson said the woman was neither a student nor an employee at the university.

"The City of Pittsburgh and Occupational Safety and Health Administration will lead the investigation with the full support of the university," the spokesperson said. "We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victim."

The woman's identity will be released by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner, police said.

The incident also caused traffic disruptions on Desoto Street between Sutherland Drive and O’Hara Street. Police were asking the public to avoid the area or allow extra time for traffic.