Accident claims life at school construction site
The victim of a construction accident that occurred Friday at the high school addition to the Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center, 800 40th Ave. E., West Fargo, was identified Tuesday morning by West Fargo police officials as 30-year old Trevor Skarphol, of Fargo.
According to Assistant West Fargo Police Chief Mike Reitan, the victim was working in the area where they were placing the large steel beams when a 28-foot steel beam fell from its mount and struck him. Skarphol was an employee of Scott's Electric of Wahpeton.
Reitan said the 911 call came in at 11:38 a.m. from the construction site, with West Fargo Police Department officers and F-M Ambulance crew members on the scene in a few minutes time. Skarphol was critically injured and pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Bismarck for an autopsy.
Reitan said the victim was wearing his hard hat at the time of the accident. Several other members of the construction crew were in the vicinity when the beam fell but nobody else was injured. Crews immediately stopped work at the site. Osha was notified and arrived at approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday to begin its investigation.
According to Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center Principal Greg Grooters some work had resumed at the site as of Tuesday morning.