Traffic on the Throgs Neck Bridge was brought to a standstill today when a worker was killed in a construction accident.
Preliminary reports of the accident at about 10:30 a.m. said that the man, later identified as William Barnes, 48, of Port Washington, was crushed by falling crane equipment, but officials wouldn't confirm the exact details of the incident.
"We still don't know exactly how it happened, just that it was a construction accident," said a Fire Department spokesman. "We know that he did have to be extricated from something but we don't know what exactly.
The accident happened on the off ramp of the Clearview Expressway and Bronx-bound traffic was completely shut down. Queens-bound traffic was reduced to one lane.
Northbound access to the bridge from the Clearview Expressway and Cross Island Parkway ramp was restored shortly after 12 Noon, MTA Bridges and Tunnels officials said.
The accident is under investigation.
