A 52-year-old construction worker was fatally injured in an incident involving an excavator Monday at Kona Village.
The victim, whom police identified Tuesday afternoon as Clifford Cox, was operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at the construction site in Kaupulehu when he apparently maneuvered the ATV in front of an excavator in an attempt to get the excavator operator’s attention around 11:40 a.m., according to the Hawaii Police Department. The excavator subsequently collided with the ATV and ran over the smaller vehicle.
Police said the 52-year-old suffered fatal injuries in the wreck and died prior to the arrival of Hawaii Fire Department personnel.
“The case is still under investigation, and classified as an industrial accident,” according to police, who said an autopsy has been requested.
The man killed Monday was an 18-year employee of Goodfellow Brothers, said Edward Brown, Goodfellow Bros. Inc. Hawaii Region president.
“A member of our team was involved in an accident at the Kona Village construction site. We are devastated by the news that our team member has passed away,” Brown said. “We are committed to promoting the safety of our workers and site operations.”
Brown continued that the company is working with investigators to “understand the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident.”
“We offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to our team member’s family, and all who have been affected by this tragic accident,” he said.