Worker Killed at Demolition Site

Patrick O’Reilly, 25, was killed when he was struck by falling concrete when part of a wall collapsed at a demolition site Dec. 26 at Westfield Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

The accident occurred about 11 p.m. as a work crew was knocking down an exterior wall of a former Ruby Tuesday restaurant to make way for a new Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Workers were removing an outer layer of brick when concrete pieces fell from the top of the wall and hit three workers.

Countryside Fire Protection District ambulances arrived in three minutes, and workers had already removed the debris from the victims, Deputy Chief Chuck Smith said.

Paramedics took two of the workers, including O’Reilly, to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration was investigating the accident.

We believe that O’Reilly was employed by P.S. Demolition, who is based in Wheeling, Illinois.