Worker dies after fall at Berkeley school construction site
The worker, Jonathan Guidi, fell from scaffolding 30 feet high onto the concrete below, authorities said.
A worker died Thursday after falling from scaffolding at a South Berkeley elementary school construction site, according to authorities and public records.
The coroner's office identified him as 41-year-old Jonathan Dillard Guidi of Sacramento.
The Berkeley Fire Department was dispatched at about 12:50 p.m. Thursday to Sylvia Mendez Elementary, at 2840 Ellsworth St., for a worker who had fallen 30 feet from scaffolding onto the concrete below, according to authorities and radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner.
The worker was in critical condition as Berkeley firefighters rushed him to Highland Hospital with a trauma activation.
He was able to speak to Berkeley firefighters on the way to the hospital, but he ultimately did not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon.
Community members who saw police and firefighters at Sylvia Mendez on Thursday and Friday, along with what appeared to be a new safety perimeter on the school roof marked off with red flags, asked The Scanner for details.
The Berkeley Unified School District shared a brief statement Friday afternoon.
"We are saddened to share that an accident occurred yesterday involving a subcontractor working on the Sylvia Mendez Elementary School renovation project," BUSD said. "We value the many contractors and subcontractors who are involved in renovating our schools. The family and construction crew are in our thoughts today. We send them strength and comfort at this difficult time."
Due to the ongoing construction, there are no summer programs at Sylvia Mendez, BUSD said. Neither students nor school staff were on site Thursday.
Berkeley police said the worker was installing scaffolding when he fell.
BPD and Cal/OSHA will now conduct their own death investigations.
Stay tuned for updates.
