Police Identify Men Killed In Saint Louis Elevator Shaft Fall

ST. LOUIS, MO — Police have identified 44-year-old Joey Hale and 58-year-old Ben Ricks as the two workers killed Monday when a safety cable snapped, causing them to fall six stories down an elevator shaft in downtown St. Louis.

The accident happened at a building on Washington Avenue that was being converted into a hotel as part of an ongoing construction project. Both men were unionized subcontractors with World Wrecking, a demolition and cleanup company, had more than 20 years of experience and were trained for the job they were performing, the company said.

GenCorp Services, which hired Worldwide Wrecking, told the Associated Press Tuesday that the men were union employees using a piece of equipment for the first time since its installation.

The Post-Dispatch reports union representatives had previously raised concerns about the company's safety practices, and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaint is outstanding against GenCorp.

GenCorp says it is investigating the accident, as are OSHA and the City of St. Louis.

This report has been corrected to make it clear the workers were subcontractors with Worldwide Wrecking and not directly hired by GenCorp Services.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.