A 29-year-old man was killed Monday when a large piece of steel from an oil rig swung down and crushed him as he worked to remove the structure from a property in Riverdale, authorities said.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said a 911 call came in around 10:45 a.m. reporting an injured man in a field near Mt. Whitney and Polk avenues. Deputies and EMS personnel arrived and found the worker dead from major injuries.

According to a preliminary investigation, the man had been part of a crew contracted to dismantle and remove the oil rig when the steel component suddenly came down.

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, has been notified and will conduct an investigation into the workplace death.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.