HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Some answers have come, but questions still remain stemming from an apparent fatal accident at the site of the Holland Civic Center renovation.
Holland Public Safety on Wednesday went into further detail as to the circumstances on Tuesday afternoon that led to the death of a 38-year-old Grand Rapids man and the hospitalization of a 41-year-old Grand Rapids man. Ruben Gomez-Vazques and Rafael Hernandez-Alvarez were doing work for X-treme Demolition, a firm retained by G.O. Construction, who was contracted to renovate the venerable structure.
According to a statement by Public Safety Captain Keith Mulder, the two men were working on a small section of cement floor on the second level of the building near the eastern end when a section of that floor collapsed, causing the workers to fall. Hernandez-Alvarez was able to free himself before first responders arrived, and although it took rescuers about 15 minutes to extricate Gomez-Vazques from the debris, he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ottawa County Medical Examiner’s Office. Hernandez-Alvarez was taken to Holland Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries and released.
Holland Public Safety detectives are investigating the incident “as a fatal workplace accident at this point,” according to Mulder, and the case is also being investigated by state Occupational Safety and Health Administration staffers.
In a separate statement, G.O. Construction said, “We are devastated about what happened. We would like to express our deepest sympathies and keep everyone involved in our prayers. We remain grateful to the first responders for their efforts and for the support received from the City of Holland’s public safety officials. At this time the site has been secured and the project has been halted while we cooperate with officials investigating this matter.”
Xtreme Demolition, the employer of the two victims, also released a satement concerning the accident: “Everyone at Xtreme is devastated by the news of Ruben. Our focus right now is supporting his family as well as assisting Rafael Hernandez-Alvarez as he recovers from injury. We offer our prayers to Ruben’s family and continue to pray for Rafael’s healing. We would never wish this situation on any family and remain deeply sorry that these families are now experiencing pain and suffering.”
The incident may be brought up during the regularly-scheduled Holland City Council meeting on Wednesday evening; interim Holland City Manager Greg Robinson could also discuss the matter during a scheduled appearance on “WHTC Talk of the Town” around 9:30 AM on Thursday.
-Gary Stevens
