One worker is dead, and another injured after a fire extinguisher exploded at the USPS Morgan Building construction site within the Farley Post Office building Wednesday morning, police officials said.
The workers, not yet identified, were struck with shrapnel from the exploding fire extinguisher. The most seriously injured man who was unconscious was rushed by Emergency Medical Services to Lenox Hill Hospital, where police say he died from shrapnel in the neck. The other man is said to be in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital with non-life threatening injuries
The incident occurred at about 8:18 a.m. at 341 Ninth Ave. Police say a fire extinguisher exploded for unknown reasons, sending shrapnel flying in different directions, but striking the two men.
Police and FDNY crews rushed to the scene and transported the two men, but could not save the man with neck injuries.
However, at West 25th Street, a police car collided with another vehicle on Ninth Avenue at about 8:45 a.m. apparently responding to the emergency at the GPO. Two officers and a female civilian were injured in the crash. None of the injuries was life-threatening.
A preliminary investigation found that the fire extinguisher had exploded, the reasons are not immediately known and part of the ongoing investigation.
The Department of Buildings will be investigating the construction site and has issued a temporary stop-work order.
