A tragic mishap struck Homewood-Flossmoor High School Wednesday when a construction worker was fatally injured on the job. Ronald Simonson, 63, from Vernon Hills, succumbed to wounds inflicted by a motorized hand saw while working on a new science building at the high school, confirmed by the school district and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Simonson, a masonry worker, met with the fatal accident around 11 a.m. and was promptly transported to South Suburban Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, as per the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. In a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 Superintendent Scott Wakeley conveyed his condolences, saying, "Today is a very sad day for the HF community...We extend our deepest condolences to his family, coworkers, and friends."
Following the incident, the school assured that there was no danger to any of the students or faculty and that the construction site was restricted to authorized personnel only. Wakeley also emphasized the readiness of the school’s counseling department to offer support to students and staff coping with the incident, according to a quote reported by the Patch.
In response to the accident, both an independent inspection company and OSHA are expected to conduct investigations, as informed by Flossmoor officials. The Homewood-Flossmoor Fire Department, having been called to the scene just after the accident, was among the first responders along with personnel from Flossmoor, Homewood, and Hazel Crest. Superintendent Dr. Wakely expressed gratitude for their swift response, "We are grateful to first responders from Flossmoor, Homewood, and Hazel Crest who immediately responded yesterday to care for him," while stressing the top priority of safety on campus.
