Worker at New 49ers Stadium Site Killed in Elevator Accident Tuesday

Construction on the San Francisco 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara has been halted after a worker died in an elevator accident at the site early this morning.

Company officials identified the victim as Donald White, an elevator installer who had worked for Schindler "for many years." White was a subcontractor with Schindler Elevator Corp., according to Robert Rayborn, project co-director with general contractor Turner-Devcon of what will be Levi's Stadium, the $1.3 billion venue at Centennial Boulevard and Tasman Drive slated to open in 2014.

Reported at 6:53 a.m., Rayborn said the accident occurred in one of 14 elevator shafts at the stadium site but that the circumstances remain under investigation.

"We have 1,000 employees a day working there and we have very few accidents, especially serious ones," Rayborn said. "We can't describe our sadness. This is such a tragedy."

Rayborn added that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has begun its investigation of the accident. In the meantime, work on the stadium has been stopped and workers have been sent home.

Project co-director Jonathan Harvey said it's unclear when work will resume, but that the site has been shut down at least for the day. Harvey said safety is the company's primary concern.

"We will never put a worker in a hazardous situation," he said. A statement released by Turner-Devcon this morning read, "We are deeply saddened to confirm that a worker died this morning while working on the stadium construction site. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this very difficult time."

The statement said that in addition to Cal/OSHA, the Santa Clara police and fire departments are looking into the accident, and that Turner-Devcon will also conduct its own investigation. Grief counselors will be made available to friends and coworkers of the victim in the coming days and weeks, according to the company.

Santa Clara city spokesman Dan Beerman said word of the death has sent a shock wave through the city. "Everybody's walking around here in a daze," he said.

On June 22, 2006, a worker fell about 23 feet during the renovation of Stanford Stadium, according to the Stanford News Service. Vance Brown Builders, a Palo Alto-based contractor, oversaw that project.

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