Construction Worker Dies After Falling From Building In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Bronx man has died after falling from the third floor of a building under construction in Lakewood, police said Friday.

Jorge O. Paltan-Ajila, 51, was working on a construction site at 1600 Avenue of the States when he fell from the building just before 7:30 a.m., Lakewood Police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Staffordsmith said according to the preliminary investigation, Paltan-Ajila was handing tools to a fellow employee on a boom lift when he slipped and fell.

Paltan-Ajila was wearing a safety harness but it was not secured to any anchor point and as he stepped on an unsecured beam, both the beam and Paltan-Ajila slipped off the platform, Staffordsmith said.

He suffered severe traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts to save his life, Staffordsmith said.

Two of Paltan-Ajila's cousins were working at the site with him and were notified as the next of kin, Staffordsmith said.

Local authorities and the Occupational Safety and Health Agency are investigating and working to ensure safety measures are in place to prevent similar incidents in the future, Staffordsmith said.