Laborer Killed in School Construction Accident

Mark Joye

Contributor

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An Ecuadorian laborer who was working at a school site in Brooklyn, NY, died in a construction accident last week when a trench he was working in collapsed and buried him under tons of dirt.

Dirt, debris and tools so thoroughly covered the worker, identified by the police as Juan Amendano, 30, of Brooklyn, that it took rescue workers nearly an hour to dig him out. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

When Mr. Amendano's body was uncovered, his legs were entangled in his shovel, fire officials said.

Amendano was waterproofing the school's foundation when the accident occurred. He was a day laborer who was hired for different jobs every morning and paid cash when the workday ended.