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Fatal industrial accident reported in Benn’s Grant area of Smithfield

Posted at 11:36 AM, Dec 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-11 18:09:59-05

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. -

In the backyard of rows of new homes a worker died Monday morning.

According to Lt. Tommy Potter with the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's office they received a call just after 10 a.m. Monday morning for a report of an industrial accident.

"Upon our arrival found out this was in fact an industrial fatality," Potter said.

Osha immediately took over the investigation with the help of the sheriff's department and the isle of wight fire and rescue.

"It appears one of the contractors on sight was operating a piece of heavy machinery and something went wrong with the machinery or in the area he was working that did result in the accident," Potter said.

For several hours the crews worked to move the machinery by using vehicles already on site to recover the workers body.

"Construction has stopped and there does not appear to be anything indicative of foul play there is no criminal investigation taking place at this time," Potter said.

The Bens Grant area is a large subdivision in Smithfield where potter says contruction has been taking place for several years.

He says the incident was isolated and that no other workers were hurt.

""There are representation from the medical examiners office on sight here as well. So that's another facet of the investigation. The body will be taken back to the medical examiners office there they will determine the cause and manner of death," Potter said

LT. Potter says construction on the subdivision has been happening for the past few years but they have never had an incident like the one today.

Authorities are responding to a fatal industrial accident in Isle of Wight County.

The Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office says they received calls reporting the incident just after 10 a.m. Monday morning.

The accident occurred at a large housing complex under construction in the Benn's Grant neighborhood.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Medical Examiner are at the scene.

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