News Summary
A tragic construction accident occurred at a data center project near Lytle, Texas, resulting in the death of a subcontractor. The incident involved a subcontractor being struck by an articulating truck during work hours. Emergency responders were unable to save the individual. The site has been temporarily closed as investigations by local authorities and OSHA are underway to determine safety protocols and prevent future incidents.
Fatal Construction Incident Near San Antonio Claims Subcontractor’s Life
San Antonio, Texas — A construction worker lost his life following a serious accident at a large data center project near Lytle, Texas, on October 13. The incident occurred during regular work hours when the subcontractor, identified as Maurice McGowan, 28 years old, was struck by an articulating truck at the site.
Details of the Incident
According to reports, McGowan was engaged in construction activities at the site, which is part of the Rowan Digital Infrastructure’s Cinco data center campus. The site is located close to Lytle, a small town south of San Antonio. During the incident, an articulating truck involved in the construction operation struck McGowan, resulting in fatal injuries. Emergency responders arrived at the scene promptly but were unable to save his life, and he was pronounced dead at the location.
The Construction Project
The data center project officially broke ground on August 7 and is expected to deliver up to 300 megawatts (MW) of data capacity, making it a significant infrastructure development in the region. The project represents a minimum investment of $900 million and aims to support digital infrastructure needs, although an official completion date has not yet been announced.
Response and Safety Measures
The general contractor responsible for the construction, Turner Construction, responded immediately following the accident. The company’s onsite team and medics provided emergency assistance, but the tragic outcome was unavoidable. In the wake of the incident, all work on the site has been temporarily suspended as investigations are underway.
Investigation and Cooperation
Authorities, including local law enforcement and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), have begun an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding McGowan’s death. Turner Construction has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation and is committed to understanding the factors that led to the accident, with the aim of preventing future tragedies.
Company and Industry Response
Rowan Digital Infrastructure’s leadership, including Chief Data Center Officer Dan McNary, emphasized that safety remains a top priority. Support services are being offered to staff members affected by the incident, including those working at or associated with the project site.
Background on the Project
The Rowan Digital Infrastructure data center campus near Lytle is part of a growing effort to expand digital capacity across Texas. The site’s development signifies substantial investment in cloud computing and data storage infrastructure, reflecting ongoing trends in digital transformation. Turner Construction, with vast experience in large-scale construction projects, is managing the development work, which involves complex logistics and safety protocols to handle high-value infrastructure accurately and securely.
Additional Context
Construction sites for data centers and similar large-scale infrastructure projects often involve operating heavy machinery and vehicles, such as articulating trucks, which require strict safety measures. While accidents like this are rare relative to the size of such projects, they underscore the importance of rigorous safety protocols and continuous monitoring to protect workers working in high-risk environments.
The incident near San Antonio remains under investigation, and authorities are expected to release further details once their review is complete. The company and project stakeholders continue to emphasize safety and are cooperating fully to understand how this tragedy occurred and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
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Additional Resources
- Engineering News-Record: Worker is Identified in Fatal Turner Construction Data Center Incident
- Wikipedia: Occupational Safety and Health
- Engineering News-Record: Turner Construction Co. Involved in Fatal Data Center Incident
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Construction
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
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