BOSTON — Boston Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are investigating after a construction worker was killed near the park area of Copley Square on Saturday, city police confirmed to Boston 25 News.
The incident happened just before 10 a.m. on Saturday while crews were preparing the area for First Night festivities. The construction worker was killed after being struck by a piece of equipment that had fallen, police say.
The victim has only been identified as an adult male. United Staging and Rigging has confirmed to Boston 25 News that the construction worker was an employee of the company and that he was killed while constructing a lighting tower in Copley Square.
In a release from Jon Sharpe, the president of United Staging and Rigging, said that the victim was killed when a 3,500-pound ballast fell on his chest after being dislodged by a forklift. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
First Night Boston issued a statement regarding the death to Boston 25 News:
This morning there was a fatal accident in Copley Square at set up for First Night Boston involving a construction worker. We are deeply saddened by the occurrence and are sending our prayers to the family of the worker.
— First Night Boston
Boston Police and OSHA responded to the scene initially, along with Suffolk County prosecutors.