Officials said that Jorge Marcelo Yanza Riera, of Fall River, was working at a home on 14 Trapps Pond Road and fell from scaffolding between 20 and 30 feet onto a walk-out basement egress area below.
A 34-year-old man who was working at an Edgartown construction site died Tuesday after falling at least 20 feet from scaffolding, police confirmed.
Officials said that Jorge Marcelo Yanza Riera, of Fall River, was working at a home on 14 Trapps Pond Road and fell from scaffolding between 20 and 30 feet onto a walk-out basement egress area below.
The incident happened shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to a statement from Edgartown police. Mr. Riera was given medical care at the construction site and was brought by paramedics to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after, according to the statement.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends of the worker,” police Chief Chris Dolby said in the brief statement.
A spokesperson for the district attorney said the death preliminarily appears to be a result of a construction-related accident. The incident remains under investigation by Edgartown police, state police, the district attorney’s office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Police officers could be seen walking around the construction site Wednesday morning. The project involved the construction of a new single-family home, according to Edgartown building inspector Reade Kontje Milne. A permit for the project was issued in January 2023.
The property on Trapps Pond Road, a small road off Beach Road, is owned by Christopher Soverns of South Windsor, Conn., according to town records.
Ms. Kontje Milne said Mr. Soverns was the contractor, and the on-site manager was Joe Pastore and their company is Harbor View Builders LLC. Law enforcement officials did not say if Mr. Riera was working for Harbor View Builders or if he was working as a subcontractor.
The property is one of three in the immediate vicinity that are being developed by Mr. Soverns, Ms. Kontje Milne said.
In a statement Thursday, Mr. Soverns said he was deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Riera.
“We want to offer our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends in this very difficult time,” he wrote.
Officials with OSHA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The incident marks the second fatality on a construction job site in Edgartown this year. In February, a worker fell at the Meshacket Commons affordable housing project. Jose Collaguazo Crespo, 32, of Fall River, died after falling about two stories onto a concrete basement.
Comments
This is such a sad story. My
Paul EdgartownThis is such a sad story. My prayers to the victims family.
So unfortunate. Thoughts and
John EdgartownSo unfortunate. Thoughts and prayers. The photo captures it all. I believe both fatal accidents on Island this year were from off island construction Companies.
Home owners should keep this
Bob EdgartownHome owners should keep this in mind when you see the cost of building a house. It is a dangerous job and even with the best safety measures you can get really hurt and or die. Every trade person has to watch for themselves and not take chances just to get a job done quicker.
Bob, it is not really "the
James Kozak vineyard havenBob, it is not really "the best safety measures", otherwise these tragic events would not continue to happen.
There is an answer, to actually put in place "the best safety measures", where worker safety means more than just $$$$.
Thoughts and prayers to the
Paul EdgartownThoughts and prayers to the family.
All construction trade workers need to take a OSHA class. It should be mandatory.
Safety first, we all want to go home to our families.
Construction is the most dangerous job in the world.
Be safe
Both Logging and commercial
Nestor Makhno Tisbury/UkraineBoth Logging and commercial fishing are more dangerous than construction. But roofing and Iron and Steel workers are in the top 10
Terrible when a guy goes to
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownTerrible when a guy goes to work and doesn't come home. Saw it many times when I was young and worked construction
My deep thoughts and prayers
Flavia HersheyMy deep thoughts and prayers to the family and friends. Very sad and unfortunate.
If anyone is interested to
Briana LazoIf anyone is interested to donate use this link https://gofund.me/be433da0 so we could be able to get his body back to his country so his parents can say their final goodbye thank you.
That's covered under workers
Robin CTThat's covered under workers'comp.
Not a tall building, what
Ken Edg.Not a tall building, what happened? Thats 2 now in Edgfartown.
I understand why OSHA is
Ron ChappyI understand why OSHA is investigating this sad incident, but what struck me as odd is why so many law enforcement agencies are involved and why is the DA saying "this appears to be a result of a construction-related accident." What else could it be?
Unfortunately this is
Concerned Citizen MvUnfortunately this is generally the issue with construction in the residential sector. Most construction companies employ “subcontractors” who work full time but don’t get the benefits of being a full time employee. The residential sector pushes the limits on safety and hire undocumented workers who are easier to take advantage of. IMHO the general contractors ultimately are responsible for these accidents.
No worker should die on the
Debbie Berkowitz EdgartownNo worker should die on the job. Two deaths in a few months is a big red flag for the Island-- that somehow corners are being cut on protecting workers from being injured and killed on the job. The research is clear that worker injuries and deaths can be prevented with safe conditions. Unsafe conditions are the cause of work related injuries. Falls are the leading cause of death in construction industry. OSHA will investigate -- and will determine what happened. But two deaths is a huge red flag that maybe the island needs to gather all construction companies and hold a course on safe roofing/scaffolding/ladders and preventing falls on construction. OSHA staff could conduct the course-- though of course this new Adminsitration is shutting the OSHA office near Boston.
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