Construction worker dies after being hit by lumber in downtown building

Firefighters arrive at the Maclellan Building on Broad Street after a man died in a construction accident Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016.
Firefighters arrive at the Maclellan Building on Broad Street after a man died in a construction accident Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016.

A construction worker was killed Tuesday while working in the Maclellan Building on Broad Street, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department.

The man, an employee of Montgomery Martin Construction, died after being hit by a 2-by-6-by-16 piece of lumber, according to police. His name had not been released as of late Tuesday.

The call came in about 10 a.m., fire department spokesman Bruce Garner said. Witnesses told investigators a co-worker attempted to revive the man with CPR after the accident but was unsuccessful.

Firefighters also performed CPR on the man when they arrived, but they also could not revive him.

photo A police car is parked in front of the Maclellan building on Broad Street.

Because the building is undergoing renovation, the elevators were inoperable and firefighters had to carry the victim nine floors down a narrow stairwell. According to a news release from the Chattanooga Fire Department, that operation was completed at about 12:30 p.m.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family," Garner said. He did not release any details about the nature of the accident and said the investigation is ongoing.

Jennifer Farrar, public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, said that agency also is investigating and no comment will be available until the probe is completed in four to six weeks.

Records show that in Tennessee last year there were 33 workplace fatalities, six of which were in construction. According to data published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, one fatality occurred in Chattanooga when a worker at Wrigley Manufacturing Co. LLC was caught in a machine on Feb. 3.

Renovation of the 13-story structure at 721 Broad St. will turn the former office building into an apartment building, according to Times Free Press archives. It's a $13.5 million project headed by Heritage Land and Development Co.

Officials with the company were not available for comment Tuesday.

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