ALBION — One man was killed and another was seriously injured Tuesday when the building they were working under collapsed on them.
Three men from Kennebec Home Improvements had jacked up a camp at 120 Marden Shore Road, on Lovejoy Pond when the building collapsed at about 9:45 a.m., Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said.
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Robert Rodriques, 52, of Augusta, was pronounced dead at the scene. Linwood Stover, 55, also of Augusta, was hurt, but his injuries are likely not life-threatening, McCausland said. Both men were pinned under the building when it collapsed.
Michael Sterling, 54, of Farmingdale, called for help.
Rescue workers used extrication equipment to lift the building off the two victims.
Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene Tuesday. Safety Specialist Steven Warner wouldn’t speculate about possible causes of the accident, saying the investigation is ongoing.
The camp’s owner, Carol Churchill, said she has owned the single-story seasonal camp for about 10 years. Shoring up the foundation was to be the first step in a total renovation of the building.
She said she did not know Rodriques, but she has known Stover for a few months. Stover is the owner of Kennebec Home Improvements, and Churchill hired him to serve as general contractor on the project.
Stover was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Campus.
Churchill was at work in Augusta when the accident happened, but drove to the camp as soon as she was notified.
Standing amid coniferous trees near the shoreline Tuesday, Churchill said she was shaken by the accident couldn’t bring herself to enter the camp to inspect for damage.
“It’s so unreal,” she said. “It’s hard to comprehend the whole situation; that someone died here.”
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
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