Work resumes at new Vikings stadium after worker's death

Vikings stadium accident
Angela Strong and daughter Kyra, 11, of St. Paul, leave a bouquet of flowers and say prayers for the construction workers Wednesday.
Richard Tsong-Taatarii | Star Tribune via AP

Construction work restarted at U.S. Bank Stadium Thursday, a day after one worker was killed and another injured in a roofing fall.

One worker reportedly fell about 50 feet from the edge of the stadium's roof into a snow gutter. That worker died before his arrival at the hospital. Another worker was injured on the roof and required rescue.

Mortenson Construction is the general contractor on the site, but both workers were employed by the subcontractor North St. Paul-based Berwald Roofing Company.

The company hasn't released any more information about what may have caused the incident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is still investigating, according to a statement from Mortenson Construction senior vice president John Wood.

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"Mortenson is also providing resources and counselors on site for workers and will continue to make these resources available for as long as they are needed," Wood said.

The company hasn't yet identified the workers involved in the incident, but family members on social media identified the man who died as Jeramie Gruber, 35, of Northfield, Minn. The condition and identity of the injured man has not been released.

Mortenson Construction has not received any citations or penalties for 16 compliance inspections conducted in the last five years, according to the Minnesota's OSHA department.

The subcontractor, Berwald Roofing, has received nine citations in the past five years, including for failing to provide safety measures on scaffolding or roofs.

Company officials have not said whether the two men involved in Wednesday's incident were wearing harnesses.

The Vikings stadium is scheduled to be completed in July. These were the first significant injuries reported on the project.