Construction workers injured in Laurel after scaffolding collapse
Two construction workers were injured just after noon Thursday, Dec. 16, after they fell from a scaffold at a construction site in Laurel. One had to be airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center.
Samuell Hernandez, 26, of Patchogue and Jorge Calle, 30, of Babylon, who were putting siding on the second story of a new house in the Laurel Links community, were standing on “a “fairly rudimentary scaffold” made of wooden timbers, Southold Police Sergeant Scott Latham said at the scene.
Police said that the scaffold stood about 20 feet tall.
Both men, who worked for the Bohemia-based Malta Construction Group, were conscious and alert after they fell and both complained of back pain, the sergeant said.
Mattituck Fire Department Rescue Squad members took the men to ambulances at the scene, where they were treated while awaiting transport to medical facilities. Mr. Calle was taken to Stony Brook by Suffolk County Police helicopter, while Mr. Hernandez was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center by the Mattituck Fire Department, according to police reports.
Representatives from Malta Construction Group declined to comment Thursday.
In other Southold Town police news:
• A 40-year-old Riverhead man was charged with DWI after an accident on Route 48 in Cutchogue early Tuesday morning. Alberto Rivero’s car reportedly left the roadway and struck a drain pipe in the median of Route 48 at about 12:40 a.m., according to police reports. Southold Town Police, who responded to the scene, said that Mr. Rivero’s breath smelled strongly of alcohol, but he refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test. Police said that Mr. Rivero, who was uninjured in the accident, failed several field sobriety tests. In addition to DWI, he was charged with refusing to submit to a roadside breath test. He was held overnight at police headquarters for a morning arraignment.
• A woman from Laurel was charged with DWI early Thursday morning, after a car she was driving was found stuck in the median on Route 48 in Cutchogue. Valerie Wowak, 29, told police that she had swerved to avoid a deer, after which her car careened into a drainage ditch near the intersection of Route 48 and Bridge Lane at about 3 a.m., according to police reports. Police said that Ms. Wowak complained of minor neck pain but did not wish to seek medical attention. She was taken to headquarters and held for arraignment.
• Jose L. Gregorio, 29, of Southold was arrested at 8:20 p.m. on Friday after he was stopped for a traffic violation on Route 25 in Greenport. Mr. Gregorio was charged with felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation. His vehicle was impounded due to a prior DWI conviction, according to police reports. Police said that Mr. Gregorio was unable to post $15,00 bail at his arraignment last week.
• Thomas J. Sadowski, 50, of Southold was arrested at 11:24 a.m. Friday after he was stopped by police for several traffic violations on Soundview Avenue in Southold. Police said that Mr. Sadowski failed several roadside sobriety tests, after which he was charged with DWI.
• A Wild Cherry Way, Southold resident reported on Saturday afternoon that someone had stolen a $2,500 Kawasaki mini dirt bike from his property.
• A New Hampshire woman was taken to Eastern Long Island Hospital for evaluation Saturday morning after her car struck a utility pole on the Main Road in East Marion, according to police. Mariam Smith, 49, of Wolfeboro, N.H., was reportedly heading west when another vehicle entered her lane. Police said that, when Ms. Smith swerved to avoid the vehicle, her 2004 Honda slammed into a pole. She was transported to ELIH by members of the East Marion Fire Department rescue squad.
Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.
