Two construction workers fell to their deaths on Wednesday morning after falling seven stories from collapsed scaffolding near Walt Disney World in Florida. A third worker managed to hang on and climb to safety.
The accident happened at a JW Marriott hotel that is under construction, in Orange County just outside the Disney property, according to Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles.
He says there were about 18 workers at the scene when they got the call about the accident at 4:15 a.m. They were working at the top of the hotel, above the sixth floor, where concrete is being poured. Jachles says that the support structure gave way, sending two workers plummeting to their deaths. The third worker sustained minor injuries.
Fatal construction accident: 14900 blk Chelonia Pkwy./Hotel under construction/several workers on scaffold/support structure, working between 6 & 7th floors when, for reasons unknown, scaffold gave way. 2 workers fell to the ground and died on scene (more) #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/g0OLvH3dfW
— OCFire Rescue (@OCFireRescue) August 29, 2018
Jachles says the sheriff’s office and federal investigators are examining what happened.
