2 workers killed in crane collapse at Everett construction site

Local News

“It devastates us that our members and their families were impacted by this unfortunate incident,” the Pile Drivers and Divers Local 56 union said.

Two workers were killed Friday after a crane collapsed at an industrial job site in Everett.

“We put a strong emphasis on prioritizing our efforts to ensure the safety of our members. It devastates us that our members and their families were impacted by this unfortunate incident,” the Pile Drivers and Divers Local 56 union, which said it represented the two workers, wrote on Facebook about the incident.

A large crane collapsed at a construction site near 201 Rover St., located on the Mystic River, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Everett Police Chief Paul Strong said in a joint statement, killing two.

The Everett Fire Department said that the crane was operating from a barge at the time of its collapse. The Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) was notified about the incident, Everett police said on Facebook.

The union did not publicly identify the men killed by name but said they were mourning their loss.

“We would like to thank emergency responders and others on-site who did all they could for our Brothers,”the union said.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria similarly expressed grief and promised that the city would pursue a thorough investigation into the incident.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred this afternoon on Rover Street, where a crane collapse claimed the lives of two workers,” DeMaria said on Facebook. “On behalf of the City of Everett, I extend my heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and coworkers as they grieve this unimaginable loss.”

DeMaria later identified one of the workers killed as Larriston Lake, a father of four, according to NBC10 Boston. The other victim was identified by his sister as Paul Ledwell Jr., 37.

“Paul was so much more than his work. He was a gentle soul with a heart full of love,” the family member wrote in a statement to Boston.com. “Our family is devastated by this loss. His absence is felt in every corner of our lives, and the pain of losing him is indescribable.”

Charter Contracting of Boston, the company hired for the job the two men were working on, told The Boston Globe that the victims were working for a subcontractor.

“We are devastated to learn that two individuals from a subcontractor have died following a horrific accident at one of our job sites,” Robert Delhome, chief executive officer of Charter, told the Globe in a statement. “We are actively coordinating with all relevant public safety officials to understand why and how this happened.”

Everett police did not immediately respond to a request for further information Sunday night. They have not publicly identified the people killed.

The accident is under investigation by Massachusetts State Police, Everett police, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to the DA’s office.