Contractor fatally injured at school

BLASDELL, N.Y. (WIVB) - The school day ended early for dozens of pre-school students in Blasdell. The students were released after a contractor working at the school was fatally injured.

It was quite a commotion for three dozen Blasdell Elementary Pre-K students on only their fourth day of class. Rescuers were called to the school just after 8:00 a.m. when a contractor working in the crawl space under the kitchen somehow became injured.

Frontier Schools Superintendent Ron DeCarli said, "His fellow partner was talking to him and then the gentlemen in the crawl space became unresponsive."

The spokesman for Rural Metro Ambulance says they found the man in full cardiac arrest and they could not revive him en route to South Buffalo Mercy Hospital. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration confirms he did not survive.

News 4's Melissa Holmes asked, "Can you confirm reports that this worker may have been electrocuted?"

Superintendent DeCarli said, "I can't comment on that."

The situation took another turn when carbon monoxide became a concern. The spokeswoman for National Fuel says crews were called to the school when the Hamburg Fire Department found high readings of the dangerous gas.

National Fuel spokeswoman Julie Coppola-Cox said, "Our service person tested the gas equipment for carbon monoxide and we found no readings of carbon monoxide at that time."

The Frontier School District decided it was best to notify parents of the situation and allow them to either pick up their children or have them bussed to Big Tree Elementary. Had this happened next Wednesday when classes resume, almost 500 students would have been affected.

Superintendent DeCarli said, "This situation, unfortunate situation, that took place had nothing to do with any safety issues or employees of the district or children at risk of any nature."

The school district is now cooperating with the Occupation Safety and Health Administration which News 4 has been told is coming to the school to conduct a full investigation.