33-year-old Newark man was father of two young children
UNION, NJ—A 33-year-old Newark man and father of two was killed around 8 a.m. this morning in a work accident at Lenape Park in Union when a six-ton roller he was operating toppled down a shallow embankment.
The man was identified as Segundo Padilla, an employee of J.A. Alexander Inc. , a Bloomfield, NJ construction company. He was smoothing part of a 1.45 mile path of the East Coast Greenway link in Union County on the border between Union and Kenilworth. Padilla leaves behind a wife and two young children.
“On behalf of the County of Union, I extend our deepest sorrow and sympathy to the Padilla family,” Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon said. “This is a horrible tragedy and our prayers are with his family in this time of loss.”
The accident occurred along a stretch of trail to be constructed eventually through Lenape and Black Brook Parks that will pass through sections of Cranford, Kenilworth, Springfield and Union. Padilla had smoothed over approximately500 feet of trail off Springfield Road and into Lenape Park when the Ingersoll Rand roller he was operating apparently toppled off an edge. His body was discovered by fellow employees who notified Union County Police and the Kenilworth Fire Department, which assisted in the extrication.
Union County Police and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the incident to determine whether he was wearing a seat belt. An autopsy will be conducted sometime later today by the Union County Medical Examiner to confirm the cause of death.
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