Galleria Construction Worker Killed in Fall

A construction worker fell to his death Wednesday at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, tumbling four stories into an excavation pit while working on a massive renovation project at the mall.

Co-workers found the man, unconscious and unresponsive, at the bottom of the 10-foot-deep pit with his circular saw beside him, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. At least one worker saw the man topple off the exposed building, which has been under construction for more than a year.

The accident occurred about 1:10 p.m. on the east side of the construction site at Sepulveda and Ventura boulevards. Another worker, who was trained as an emergency medical technician, jumped into the hole and attempted to revive the man before paramedics arrived, Humphrey said.

A team of six firefighters responded, using a ladder and a backboard to lift the man from the pit.

The victim, identified only as a 43-year-old from Riverside, suffered head trauma and an open fracture to his left elbow, Humphrey said. He was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he died.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the death, Humphrey said.

Douglas, Emmett & Co. owns the mall, but Humphrey said he did not know who employed the victim.

Douglas, Emmett officials could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.

After a sharp downturn in business at the landmark mall, the Galleria closed last year for remodeling.

The new Galleria, scheduled to open next spring, will be an open-air complex with movie theaters, restaurants and 700,000 square feet of office space.