MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A construction worker is dead after an accident at a construction site in Miami Beach, Wednesday afternoon.
Miami Beach Police and Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene of the incident near 80th Street and Harding Avenue.
According to officials, 47-year-old construction worker, Ernesto Rodriguez was killed after he fell from a scaffolding.
7’s Skyforce HD flew over the scene. A yellow tarp could be seen covering what appeared to be a body behind a cement truck.
The victim’s family rushed to the scene to learn the difficult news from the man’s co-worker.
According to investigators, a construction crew was on a scaffolding that was precariously hanging from the east wall of an apartment building, with one side higher than the other.
“Our investigation thus far has revealed that apparently a cement truck that was underneath part of a construction and inside, as well, apparently hit some sort of cabling that was holding that platform up in the air,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Ernesto Rodriguez, who is unrelated to the victim. “At this point, we do believe the individual was wearing some sort of safety apparatus. We don’t know, though, if it was properly connected.”
Detectives believe that when the truck pulled out of its parked spot, they said, the scaffolding was likely unleveled, causing the worker to fall several stories.
The worker was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 13-year-old boy who was riding his bike by the scene said he heard someone yelling “Stop! Stop!” then saw the victim on the ground bleeding.
Officers had to shut down Harding Avenue to investigate the accident.
Police said no charges have been filed. They are calling it an accident.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also begun an investigation.
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