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Police have said that no other employees were injured after a New Jersey industrial accident claimed the life of an employee in Middlesex County on March 6, 2014.
Emergency crews responded to the scene after receiving a call around 2:30 p.m. that an employee had been pinned by falling debris at Harris Structural Steel Company in South Plainfield. At least one fire truck and one ambulance arrived to the accident scene at Bushwick Metals on New Market Avenue, while a police cruiser blocked traffic on the street and closed the area between New Brunswick Ave and South Clinton Ave.
According to South Plainfield Chief of Police James Parker, 65-year-old Robert Donohue of Glen Gardner died of injuries sustained in the work-related accident. Local news agents have reported that Donohue was an experienced employee who was nearing retirement.
Although the initial report incorrectly stated that the victim was pinned between a tractor-trailer and crane, it later became apparent that the worker was caught between the semi-truck and several steel beams. A co-worker of the victim, whose name has not been released, told police that that he heard a loud bang and noticed that a large stack of steel beams had fallen over, most likely falling on top of Donohue.
Police have confirmed that officials from the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration were on the scene to investigate the accident shortly after it happened.
South Plainfield police issued an alert that New Market Avenue had been reopened just after 6:00 p.m. Anyone who has vital information about the case is encouraged to contact Detective Lloyd McNelly at 908-226-7660.
We wish to express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends, and urge all New Jersey industrial accident victims to seek emotional guidance after a tragedy.