A construction worker is dead, another is missing, and six others are injured after scaffolding suddenly collapsed beneath a busy Long Island bridge, sending two men plunging into the water and triggering a desperate search-and-rescue operation.
The terrifying accident unfolded around 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, November 11, as eight contracted workers were performing repairs beneath the Loop Parkway drawbridge near Point Lookout, New York.
According to New York State Police, the temporary scaffolding supporting the crew gave way without warning, sending two workers into the waters below.
One of the men, identified as 39-year-old Kleiton De Madeiros of Montclair, New Jersey, was pulled from the water and rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he later died from his injuries.
The second worker, 38-year-old Diogo De Oliveira of Elizabeth, New Jersey, remained missing Thursday as emergency crews continued searching the surrounding waters.
Six other workers who were on the bridge when the scaffolding collapsed managed to avoid falling into the water but suffered injuries authorities described as non-life-threatening.
The disaster prompted a massive emergency response, with firefighters, police officers, marine rescue units, divers, and the U.S. Coast Guard rushing to the scene.
Rescue boats searched the waters beneath the bridge while specialized dive teams worked to locate the missing man. Helicopters also assisted as authorities coordinated the difficult search.
The Loop Parkway drawbridge connects the Meadowbrook State Parkway to Long Island’s barrier-island communities, including Point Lookout, Lido Beach, and Long Beach.
The accident occurred during a state-funded bridge maintenance project involving repairs and repainting intended to protect aging infrastructure from corrosion.
According to News 12, Champion Painting is the main contractor for a $13.8 million project involving steel repairs and repainting at four bridges. The work is expected to continue through 2027.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez expressed condolences following the fatal accident, emphasizing that protecting construction workers remains the agency’s highest priority.
Officials said the department is gathering information from the contractor and employees to assist investigators in determining what went wrong.
Authorities have not established what caused the scaffolding to collapse or whether equipment failure, structural conditions, or another factor contributed to the tragedy.
The incident forced officials to shut down both directions of the Loop Parkway for several hours. Southbound traffic was allowed to resume Wednesday evening, while northbound lanes remained closed.
As investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly collapse, the search for De Oliveira continues.
What began as a routine day of bridge repairs has now become a heartbreaking tragedy, leaving one worker dead, another unaccounted for, and authorities searching for answers.
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