Worker dies after construction accident at Benson High School in Portland

A steelworker died Friday, a day after she was injured in an accident at the Benson Polytechnic High School construction site in northeast Portland.

Ironworkers Local 29 posted on its Facebook page that Samantha “Sam” Deschenes died after being “seriously injured in an accident” and admitted to the intensive care unit of a local hospital.

KGW had reported on her death earlier on Sunday.

Rick Graves, a spokesman for Portland Fire & Rescue, said firefighters responded to a 911 call Thursday at 3 p.m. An American Medical Response ambulance arrived at 3:03 p.m. and firefighters arrived at 3:05 p.m., according to the Fire Bureau.

The injured worker was taken away by ambulance and later died in hospital, Graves said.

Deschenes’ father declined an interview and said the family is requesting privacy at this time.

Last year, Deschenes sent a letter to the Legislature advocating for the reconstruction of Interstate 5. She told lawmakers that she started as a welder six years ago, initially in a non-union position, that she was a single mother and hoped to one day work on a new bridge between Oregon and Washington.

“I cross that bridge every day. To be able to look at it and tell my son, ‘Mommy built it,’ would be part of my legacy,” she wrote.

A fund has been set up to help the Deschenes family. Anyone wishing to donate can do so through this link: https://ironworkerscu.org/donate/.

Spokespeople for Portland Public Schools and the building contractor Andersen Construction were not immediately available for comment on Sunday.

The Benson modernization began in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed this summer, according to the district’s website. During construction, students attended classes at the Marshall campus in southeast Portland.

— Aimee Green covers breaking news and the justice system. Reach her at 503-294-5119, [email protected] or @o_aimee.

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