A fatal workplace accident involving heavy equipment occurred Thursday at a construction site in northwest Oklahoma City, prompting an investigation by federal safety officials.
According to Oklahoma City fire officials, a person was run over by a skid steer while working at a new residential development near Northwest 196th Street and North May Avenue. Emergency crews from the Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to the scene, and the area was secured as first responders assessed the situation.
Oklahoma City police said officers were dispatched just before noon after a 911 call reported the incident. Sky 5 aerial footage showed emergency personnel and construction equipment at the jobsite, where police later confirmed the workplace incident was fatal.
Authorities said the death is not being treated as a criminal matter. Oklahoma City police noted they are not conducting a separate investigation because the incident is classified as an industrial accident.
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Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed that OSHA has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The agency has up to six months to complete its review, which typically examines jobsite safety practices, equipment operation procedures, worker training, and compliance with federal safety regulations.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death. No information about the victim’s identity has been released.
Construction safety experts note that skid steers and other compact heavy machinery present significant risks on active worksites, particularly in confined or fast-moving residential construction zones. Federal data show that struck-by and caught-between incidents remain among the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry.
The fatal accident occurred as residential development continues to expand across northwest Oklahoma City, bringing renewed attention to jobsite safety standards and oversight during periods of heightened construction activity.
Originally reported by Kilee Thomas, Reporter and Addison in Koco.
