Construction worker dies in accident

Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

A Las Vegas construction worker died early today in a road construction accident near Summerlin Parkway and Durango Drive.

Osman Tejeda, 34, of Las Vegas, died about 2:10 a.m., according to the Clark County Coroner. Tejeda was working on a Las Vegas Public Works road project near the intersection, Sgt. Mike Nihei of the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

His cause of death was still under investigation this morning, a spokeswoman for the coroners office said.

An investigation by the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not yet determined the circumstances surrounding Tejeda's death, Tom Czehowski, chief administrative officer for Nevada OSHA, said.

Czehowski refused to comment on the accident, saying he was barred by a state law from answering further questions about an ongoing investigation.

Debby Ackerman, a spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Department of Public Works, said Tejeda was part of a crew working on the $14.3 million Durango Drive Improvement Project. The project began in August and will widen a one-mile stretch of Durango Drive between Westcliff and Vegas drives, including a new partial interchange with Summerlin Parkway.

Ackerman said she did not information about the accident and referred questions to OSHA.

Tejeda was employed by Frehner Construction Company, the Las Vegas firm contracted to perform the work. Managers at the company were unavailable for comment this morning.