1 worker killed, 1 seriously injured after fall from UChicago construction site

HYDE PARK – One construction worker is dead and another is in critical condition after falling from scaffolding at the construction site of the future University of Chicago cancer center.

The accident occurred around 11:45 a.m. Thursday when the two men fell from scaffolding near the corner of Maryland and 56th Street, police said. It is at least the second accident at the construction site in seven months.

The Sun-Times, citing fire officials, reported that scaffolding erected around the building under construction collapsed in high winds. Wind gusts reached nearly 40 miles per hour on Thursday, according to Accuweather.

A 27-year-old man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and pronounced dead. The second man, whose age was not immediately known, was also taken to UChicago Hospital and was in critical condition, police said.

The two men were steelworkers at the site where Turner Construction is the general contractor. Work at the site was halted following the incident, Turner spokesman Christopher McFadden said in a statement.

“This is an extremely sad day,” said McFadden. “We are working hard to prevent such days and have suspended all construction. Bereavement counseling services are available to all workers on site to support them in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”

Ashley Heher, spokeswoman for UChicago Medicine, declined to comment and referred the Block Club to McFadden.

The University of Chicago and Chicago police closed 57th Street between Drexel Avenue and Cottage Grove Avenue on Thursday afternoon while authorities investigated. Police reopened 57th Street to traffic around 4:30 p.m.

According to CBS 2, two other workers were injured at the construction site in December. An equipment malfunction occurred at the construction site and the injured workers were taken to a hospital “for evaluation and treatment,” Turner officials told CBS.

In September, the University of Chicago began construction on its $815 million cancer center, the state’s first freestanding cancer center. The 550,000-square-foot, seven-story facility will include 80 inpatient beds, 90 exam rooms, a breast cancer center, radiation therapy and more, consolidating treatments currently taking place in five buildings on the Hyde Park campus.

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: