NEW YORK — Nearly three years ago, a construction worker in The Bronx was crushed to death under piles of rubble while working on an apartment building. Now, four men have been charged in his death, which investigators say was entirely preventable.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said it is the first time in her office’s history that manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges have been filed in a construction fatality.
In August 2019, a four-story building under construction on 208th Street collapsed, killing worker Segundo Huerta. Prosecutors said the workers carried nearly a ton of concrete blocks and bricks to the third floor, which was not properly secured.
They described the construction site as a “death trap waiting to happen”. The weight caused the floors to collapse, leaving Huerta, a 46-year-old father of five, trapped in a pile of steel and rubble.
“An unqualified company allegedly used fraudulent credentials, ignored supervisory requirements and building codes to build a dangerously unstable structure,” Clark said.
The owner of the business that the district attorney alleged was doing the actual construction has been arrested on second-degree manslaughter charges. He was prosecuted and is on supervised release.
The owner of another business who acted as general contractor and the construction superintendent face charges of criminally negligent homicide. A now former city worker is charged with second degree grand theft.
“A former employee of the New York City Department of Design and Construction was allegedly paid $3,000 for the use of his credentials, and he allegedly never visited the site,” Clark said.
“Today’s announcement sends a strong message to the construction industry: Job site negligence and credentialing will not be tolerated,” said Kazimir Vilenchik, acting commissioner of the city’s Department of Buildings.
After Huerta’s death, the “Carlos Law” was enacted to increase fines and corporate liability in construction accidents. Huerta’s widow, surrounded by three of her five children, said she is still seeking justice for her husband.
One of the defendants, the owner of one of the construction companies, is still on the run. Authorities said they hope to make an arrest soon.
