National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Wrightsville man killed in accident at South Dakota construction site

A Wrightsville man was killed in a work-related accident at a wind turbine construction site last week, according to authorities.

Stephen C. McAdams, 40, was killed Friday afternoon at a construction site about six miles northeast of Kimball, S.D., according to Lt. Alan Welsh with the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

McAdams was standing next to a pickup truck and talking to an occupant inside when he was trapped by a tractor-trailer trying to maneuver around the truck, Welsh said. The driver of the tractor-trailer turned too sharply and its flatbed trailer loaded with rebar trapped McAdams against the truck and then ran him over, according to Welsh.

No charges have been filed, Welsh said, adding that the ultimate decision will rest with the state attorney for the county where the incident occurred.

The state attorney’s office could not be reached for comment.

McAdams was an employee of Wanzek Construction, which The Daily Republic newspaper reported is main contractor for a 108-turbine construction project.

A company representative said McAdams has lived in different areas of the country but his most recent listed address was in Wrightsville, according to the Associated Press.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the death as it would any workplace fatality, said Keith Thompson, compliance officer with OSHA’s North Dakota office. It also covers South Dakota.

A published obituary for McAdams says he is a New Mexico native and U.S. Army veteran who served in Desert Storm.

He died less than a week before his 18th wedding anniversary with his wife, Robin L. Armstrong McAdams, according to the obituary. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Windsor Township.

He leaves behind his wife, parents, two daughters and two sons.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Buch Funeral Home, 21 Market Square in Manheim, Lancaster County, the obituary states. A viewing will begin one hour prior to the funeral.