Construction accident in Chicago today: David O’Donnell, who died in a fall near the UChicago Cancer Center, is remembered as a “role model”

CHICAGO (WLS) — David O’Donnell’s family told ABC7 this should never have happened.

Kevin O’Donnell, David’s youngest brother, spoke to ABC7 Friday morning and said he was an incredible role model, the hardest worker and someone he always admired.

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“I don’t want anyone to have to go through this. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy,” Kevin said.

Kevin is living his life hour by hour on Friday after his 27-year-old older brother David fell to his death from the eighth floor while working on the University of Chicago’s new cancer pavilion just a day ago.

“It’s just unimaginable what happened to us. It’s devastating. My parents are terribly shaken by it,” said Kevin.

ABC7 spoke to Kevin in the south suburb of Oak Forest, where David was born and raised.

“He was the hardest working guy I ever knew. It was great to look up to him and just see him. He went to work every day. He worked his ass off and I’m just so proud of him,” Kevin said.

According to authorities, David and another worker fell from a scaffold during wind gusts of over 65 km/h.

David was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other worker was taken to hospital with critical injuries.

Kevin says he learned about the incident shortly after he returned home from work.

“When I came in, my mom found out my brother had died,” Kevin said.

David’s father did not want to speak on camera but said his son worked for him as a technical engineer at his company, Hi-Tech Stake Out.

In a statement, David’s father said: “My son was a good person and a great man. I loved him very much, so many people do… He should be safe at work and now my son is never coming home again.”

As Kevin pays his final respects to his brother, he is reminded of the impact David had on him during his short life.

“He was the best big brother ever. He was a great role model. He was a hard worker. He was very loving to all his friends and family,” Kevin said.

At the University of Chicago Medical Center, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it had launched an inspection at New Horizon Steel, the company where the injured worker, but not David, was employed.

According to OSHA, New Horizon Steel has no history with OSHA, and general contractor Turner Construction has no record of any violations of Illinois regulations in the past five years.