Island and state police are investigating the death of a Fall River man who reportedly fell off a ladder at a worksite in Edgartown Tuesday.
Jose Luis Collaguazo Crespo, 32, was working at the Meshacket Commons project under construction on Meshacket Road early Tuesday morning at the time of the fall, officials said.
The incident was reported at about 7:45 a.m., and Mr. Crespo had fallen about two stories into the basement of the unfinished building, said Edgartown police chief Christopher Dolby and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office
Firefighters worked to get him out of the basement and brought him to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, according to fire Chief Alex Schaeffer.
Mr. Crespo was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
“Our hearts go out to the family, friends and coworkers,” Chief Dolby said.
Chief Dolby referred further questions on the incident to state police and the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office. A spokesperson for the district attorney’s office said the incident was being considered an industrial accident.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was informed of the incident, according to Chief Dolby.
Meshacket Commons is planned to be a 40-unit affordable and community housing project, developed by the Vineyard based-nonprofit Island Housing Trust.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the development was held in November and officials hoped residents would be able to move in by early 2026.
Island Housing Trust executive director Philippe Jordi did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.
