Newton Construction Worker Dies When Concrete Wall Collapses

A construction worker died Thursday when a concrete wall at a construction site in the backyard of a Newton home collapsed on him, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to the scene just before 8 a.m., Fire Chief Gino Lucchetti said at a news conference at the site.

Rescuers needed specialized equipment to try and get to the man, he said, and it quickly became apparent that what started as a rescue effort had turned into a recovery effort.

The victim's name was not released. No one else was hurt.

The roughly 10-foot tall wall in the yard was not attached to the house and Lucchetti was unclear of its function.

City police, the Middlesex district attorney's office and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to the scene and are investigating, he said.

He described the rescue effort as “very emotional.”