Worker taken to hospital after construction accident

By Chris Dumond

Published: November 24, 2008

A Roanoke man had to be airlifted to Lynchburg General Hospital around 10:30 a.m. Monday after a construction accident near the intersection of U.S. 29 and Calohan Road west of Rustburg.

Joseph Woods, an employee of J&J Paving, was working at a Bojangles restaurant under construction across the street from the Foster Fuels building, according to Capt. L.T. Guthrie of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office. Rescue workers were dispatched to the site just before 10 a.m.

“He was struck by a 30-foot light pole to be used to light the parking lot,” Guthrie said. “The crane operator was moving it from one part of the lot to another.

“The victim was preparing to operate another piece of equipment. He never saw it coming in his direction.”

Guthrie said Woods suffered a severe head injury. He was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon at Lynchburg General Hospital.

Virginia Department of Industry and Labor spokeswoman Jennifer Wester said a compliance investigator has been assigned to the incident. The department performs the investigation typically conducted by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Wester said.

She said the investigator will interview those involved and could evaluate the crane and other equipment. A final report on the matter is required to be completed in six months, she said.

Representatives at J&J Paving in Roanoke could not be reached for comment. A representative of MVE Inc. of Waynesboro, the company operating the crane, confirmed only that none of their employees were injured.

Alicia Petska contributed to this report