Construction Worker Killed In 8-Story Fall From Union County

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A 56-year-old Union County construction worker was killed last week after falling eight stories from a construction site in New York City that has received many safety complaints, according to NJ.com.

Plainfield resident Angel Pilataxis fell from a building in Brooklyn Heights at about 10:20 a.m. on Friday. Pilataxi landed on the second-floor terrace and was pronounced dead at the scene, a statement from the New York Police Department said.

According to a GoFundMe that was created by Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler to help Pilataxis' family, Pilataxis had worked in construction for decades. Originally from Ecuador, he raised his six children in Plainfield — three children and three step children — ranging from ages 12 to 33.

"Now, the family is without their primary breadwinner and their loving father," Restler wrote.

Pilataxi is also survived by his partner, Monica Guzman.

There have been 14 complaints filed to the New York City Department of Buildings against the property where Pilataxi fell since the start of 2021. This includes inadequate guard rails and a failure to install vertical safety nets.

According to Brooklyn Paper, the general contractor of the building — KBE-NY — was fined $10,000 two times in the last six months for failure to maintain safety standards.

The building is in the process of being converted into luxury apartments, according to NJ.com.

To help Pilataxis' family cover funeral expenses and other financial needs, visit the GoFundMe page.

Council Member Lincoln Restler organized this fundraiser for the Pilataxi family in partnership with the Worker Justice Project, which organizes low-wage, immigrant workers fighting to raise workplace standards in construction, house cleaning and app-based delivery sectors.