AKRON, Ohio — A 23-year-old construction worker was killed Thursday afternoon when a section of an exterior wall collapsed at a job site in Akron, according to local police.

First responders were called to the 300 block of White Pond Drive around 2:30 p.m. after reports of an accident at the construction site. “Preliminary information indicates that a section of an exterior wall collapsed, striking and fatally injuring a 23-year-old male,” Akron police said in a release.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim, pending notification of next of kin and further investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life in the tragic accident at the construction site on White Pond Drive,” said Akron Police Chief Brian Harding in a statement. “These incidents are extremely difficult for everyone involved and have a significant impact on our community.”

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik also issued a statement expressing sympathy: “I want to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the construction worker who sadly lost their life in today's incident at the White Pond Development site. I thank the firefighter/medics and police officers who responded to the scene of this tragedy to assist. My thoughts remain with all those impacted.”

The site of the incident is the controversial $60 million White Pond redevelopment project, which has faced significant public opposition from environmental activists and residents concerned about the loss of green space and potential environmental impacts. The Akron City Council narrowly approved the sale of 68 acres of land in 2023 to Triton Property Ventures, the developer behind the project.

Once completed, the development is expected to bring 98 ranch-style homes, 90 townhomes, 40 to 50 loft-style apartments, and roughly 30,000 square feet of commercial or retail space to the area — transforming the site into a large-scale mixed-use neighborhood. Critics, however, have raised concerns about wetland destruction, increased traffic, and the displacement of local wildlife.

Officials with Triton Property Ventures have not yet issued a statement regarding the fatal incident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the collapse, as is standard in workplace fatality cases.

This tragedy adds to ongoing national concerns about construction site safety, particularly as the U.S. construction sector faces growing demand and worker shortages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction remains one of the most dangerous industries in the country, accounting for roughly one in five workplace deaths.

Originally reported by Dave DeNatale, Bryant McCray in WKYC.