26-year-old worker killed while installing internet in Fairview; OSHA investigating

ASHEVILLE - A 26-year-old construction worker was killed June 10 while installing high-speed internet for a new housing area in Fairview, according to N.C. Highway Patrol.

The worker, identified as Jesus Lopez Flores, 26, of Gainesville, Georgia, was operating construction equipment when he ran off the right of Fairview Forest Drive and fell down an embankment, according to First Sgt. Barry Burnette.

"The general area of where this occurred is a pretty steep incline, very rural area, and the piece of equipment ran off the road to the right, overturned and the operator was found deceased," Burnette said.

"He worked for a company that was trying to install high speed internet for this housing area that's going up in that part of the county."

Buncombe County received a 911 call about the accident around 8:15 a.m. June 10 and Buncombe County Sheriff's Department, Fairview EMS and Fairview Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, according to Burnette.

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Highway patrol was requested around 9:24 a.m. and completed a collision investigation report. No other vehicles were involved in the incident, Burnette said.

N.C. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Division is investigating the fatality, according to spokesperson Erin Wilson. The division, which administers workplace safety and health laws throughout the state, is not releasing the name of the employer at this time.

Employers are required to report fatalities to the OSH Division within eight hours, according to Wilson.

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This story will be updated.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 26-year-old worker killed while installing internet in Fairview; OSHA investigating