Young worker fatally struck in the head after pressurized pipe burst at Redford Township elementary school: cops

REDFORD TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - A 21-year-old worker is dead after the end to a pressurized pipe being worked on at a Redford Township elementary school on Wednesday ruptured and struck him in the head, officials confirmed.

The Redford Township Police Department told WWJ that the young man was working at the George H. Fisher Elementary School at 10000 Crosley when the pipe he was working on burst just before 9:30 a.m.

The end-cap blew off and hit the victim in the head, killing him.

Police notified the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) about the incident and will take over the investigation.

At this time, the department said the death appears to be an accident, but if negligence is found by MIOSHA investigators, police will get involved.

An autopsy revealed blunt force trauma to the man's head, police added. The victim's name was not released out of respect for his family.

Students and staff were out this week due to Spring Break and were not present when the incident occurred. Police said the company the victim was employed with has had no prior problems -- the department is unsure if work will resume on Thursday.

MIOSHA records show this would be the sixth worker killed on the job in the state this year.