Excavator operator killed in quarry rock collapse, Massachusetts police say

A worker was killed in an accident at a quarry in Sterling, Massachusetts, on Thursday morning.

Police responded around 8 a.m. on August 22 to an Onyx Corporation quarry at 17 Stone Crest Way in Sterling.

According to the Sterling Police Department, “a portion of a rock ledge collapsed onto an excavator with a worker inside.”

Rescue crews used camera technology to assess the scene and determined that there were no signs of life.

The worker was pronounced dead at 8:39 a.m.

Onyx released a statement on the incident:

“Our hearts go out to the family of our longtime employee and friend who was killed in a tragic accident this morning at our Sterling Sand and Gravel pit.  He was operating an excavator within the safety zone of a 100-foot ledge face when the wall collapsed; we are not releasing his name pending notification of next of kin.  Leading the investigation onsite is the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) who had been at the facility as recently as Tuesday for a company-requested inspection due to expanded operations.”

Responding agencies include the Sterling Fire Department, the Sterling Police Department, the Clinton Fire Department, the Leominster Fire Department, the District 8 Technical Rescue Team, which includes assets from Barre, Clinton, Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner, Holden, Sterling, and West Boylston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure, the Massachusetts State Police Drone Unit, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services, and the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.