Industrial incident causes one fatality

MARTINSVILLE, Va. –   The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating an industrial incident that led to a fatality at 101 East Commonwealth Boulevard in the City of Martinsville earlier today. The building is a large warehouse located behind the Commonwealth Center office complex, and is used for storage. Martinsville Fire & EMS crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:30 a.m. this morning.

The victim was working with at least one other individual at the time the incident occurred. The workers were in the process of removing a large commercial-grade air conditioning unit from the roof of the building. During the process the air conditioner shifted toward the victim, pinning his body between the unit and an exterior wall. The victim sustained injuries that included massive trauma to the head and upper chest; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is yet to be determined what caused the incident. The Martinsville Police Department will assist OSHA and the state medical examiner’s office in the investigation of this incident. Stone Ambulance Service also provided assistance. A crane truck was utilized in the removal of the victim’s body and was not involved in the actual incident.

The warehouse where the incident took place is owned by the Lester Group of Martinsville. The men working on the project are private subcontractors from the Danville area of Virginia. The identity of the victim is being withheld until his family can be notified. Further information will be released when it is available.

Update on fatal industrial accident  The identity of the man fatally injured yesterday in an industrial accident at a warehouse located at 101 East Commonwealth Boulevard in Martinsville has been released by the Martinsville Police Department. He has been identified as Carl Wayne Turner, aged 54, of Sugartree Church Road in Danville, VA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is still investigating the incident. No cause has been determined at this time