'Full of life': Man killed in industrial accident at Amazon construction site in Oak Creek identified
Updated: 5:51 p.m. on July 11, 2019
OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The life of 24-year-old Zachary Dassow was cut short after a tragic accident at the Amazon construction site in Oak Creek.
His close friend, Armando Lombrano, is trying to process what happened. “He called me, gave me the news there had been an accident, and I said ‘okay, is he all right?’ And that’s when he told me he did not make it,” Lombrano said.
According to Oak Creek Police, Dassow was operating a 4-wheel ATV on the upper floor of the site, but he drove the ATV out of an open window area. Dassow fell nearly 40-feet and later died.
“Zach was one of those guys who always would think about what more can he do to make construction jobs safer,” Lombrano said. “So, I know for something this catastrophic to happen to him, this was just an accident.”
Dassow was a great outdoorsman, according to family and friends. “From going walleye fishing in cold weather, to duck hunting in storms. Anytime he called, we were set to go.”
They told CBS 58 he was excited about the future, because he had a baby on the way with his girlfriend.
“When he found out, I think we talked for like 8 hours, about what it means to be a dad, what the privilege is. He had this new kid on the way,” Lambrano said.
OSHA and the Wisconsin DNR continue to investigate the cause of the fatal accident.
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Updated: 8:30 a.m. on July 11, 2019
OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The man killed in an industrial accident at the Amazon construction site is being identified as 24-year-old Zachary Dassow of Kansasville.
Authorities say the incident happened just after 10:00 a.m. July 10 at the Amazon Fulfillment Center construction site on S. 13th Street, south of W. Ryan Road.
According to police, Dassow was operating a four-wheel ATV. A caller reported to police Dassow was operating the equipment on an upper floor and drove out of an open window area. It's estimated the fall was about 30-40 feet.
The incident remains under investigation.
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Posted: 1:31 p.m. on July 10, 2019
OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A man has died after an industrial accident at the Amazon construction site in Oak Creek.
It happened just after 10:00 a.m. July 10 at the Amazon Fulfillment Center construction site on S. 13th Street, south of W. Ryan Road.
A caller reported to police the man was operating a piece of equipment on an upper floor and drove the equipment out of an open window area. It's estimated the fall was about 30-40 feet.
The man was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The man's name is not being released until family has been notified and an autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday, July 11.
Oak Creek Police are still investigating along with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and OSHA Investigators.
The Oak Creek project team released the following statement on the incident:
We can confirm that a fatality occurred as a result of an accident on the project site in Oak Creek, Wisconsin this morning. The incident is currently under investigation and we have no further details to provide at this time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family, coworkers and friends.
Lewis Construction also released the following statement:
“Earlier today a member of our team was in a tragic accident at the Amazon construction site in Oak Creek. We are devastated to learn that this incident has resulted in the passing of this team member.
We have been working at this site for months and have numerous safety procedures in place for the construction of this facility. The safety of our workers is paramount to our operation and we are proactively working with investigators to better understand how this accident occurred.
We thank the first responders from the Oak Creek Fire and Police Departments and the medical professionals from Froedtert Hospital for their amazing work in this situation. Due to the nature of this investigation and out of respect to the loved ones of the team member we lost, we will have no further comment at this time.”