Construction Worker Dies After Polk County Wall Collapse

HAINES CITY, FL — A 49-year-old construction worker died Friday after a concrete wall collapsed around him Friday at a possible future strip shopping center in Polk County.

Mike Ferguson of the Haines City Police Department said the incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. near Davenport Boulevard and U.S. Highway 27.

Ferguson identified the victim as Martin Loera of Bartow. "Loera was critically injured when a wall collapsed at the site for a retail center, east of U.S. 27," Ferguson said. "Officers arrived and began life-saving procedures."

Loera was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries, according to Ferguson. He said the Haines City Fire Department also responded to the wall collapse

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on scene Friday to begin an investigation into the wall collapse.