KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Clay County Sheriff’s Office issued an update Thursday that the victim of Wednesday’s fatal bridge collapse near Kearney, Missouri, was 22 years old.
Connor R. Ernst, of California, Missouri, was working on the Shady Grove Bridge at Northeast 148th Street when it collapsed around 1:45 p.m.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson says it took 50 minutes for Kearney Fire and Rescue to free Ernst from the wet concrete and rubble.
Three others were injured in the collapse; although, they “were able to extricate themselves” and only suffered minor injuries.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing. The sheriff’s office said the investigation will be turned over to OSHA investigators.
"I can confirm OSHA has opened an investigation with Lehman Construction into the bridge collapse in Clay County, MO," a spokesperson for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said via email to KSHB 41 News. "OSHA will be conducting interviews with witnesses, the employer and other employees to determine if the company was following all OSHA standards and regulations. OSHA will not have any further information until they complete their investigation, which, by law, they have 6 months to complete."
Clay County previously said there were no issues with the bridge, which was inspected prior to the crew beginning to pour the deck Wednesday.
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