Construction Worker Fatality in Murray Hill

MURRAY HILL, Manhattan (PIX11) — An investigation is underway Friday after a man was killed at a building demolition site in Manhattan with a history of violations and complaints over the last few months.

At 9:16 a.m. Friday at 34 East 35th St., a building demolition site, two men were in a cherry picker when they were struck by a beam, according to the NYPD. The impact killed a 45-year-old construction worker, investigators said.

The other man, who’d been next to him in the device formally called a manlift, is 35 years old. Medics transported him to Bellevue Medical Center. His injuries are not life-threatening.

As for the man who died, a variety of people in the densely built-up neighborhood of Murray Hill said that they’d seen him and his coworkers regularly. The work crew was assigned to a project to demolish a church building and adjacent brownstones on the site, and had been working since late summer, according to the Department of Buildings (DOB).

Moe Kerbal works on the block. “It’s so sad,” he said. “I feel sorry for the family, you know? So sad.” 

The deceased man’s family arrived at the work site late Friday morning. They chose not to comment. 

Neighbors who’ve been observing the site for weeks, though, did speak about the tragedy. 

Adela Ramirez lives across the street. “That’s a human being,” she said. “He’s gone. And it makes me sad.”

Claudio Vega works at a building directly behind the demolition site and has spoken with the construction workers. He said that they had questioned some of the demolition practices they’d been instructed to carry out.