The worker suffered minor injuries and was able to swim to shore where he was transported to a local medical facility.

ROCHEPORT − A construction worker was injured Tuesday morning after falling from the Rocheport Bridge. 

The worker, employed by Lunda Construction Co., experienced an apparent safety equipment malfunction and fell into the Missouri River below, according to Derek Lepper, deputy project director from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The worker suffered minor injuries and was able to swim to shore where he was quickly transported to a local medical facility, Lepper said. The worker's current condition is unknown.

Lepper coined the incident as a "freak accident," which was reiterated by a representative from Lunda Construction. 

"Definitely a freak incident, but we will, you know, we stand behind our safety protocols and we'll continue to do training to ensure the health and welfare of the the employees on the job site," Crystal Dallas said.

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Lepper did not specify the height from which the worker fell. 

Workers with Lunda Construction have been building the new bridge for nearly a year and just added steel girders last week. 

The incident paused work on the bridge so MoDOT could review safety protocol with workers and inspect all fall protection devices. Construction resumed later Tuesday afternoon. 

The bridge's construction is expected to be finished by December 2024.

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Jack Laurie is a broadcast journalism student at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

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Blake is a junior at the University of Missouri studying Broadcast Journalism – Radio/TV Reporting & Anchoring. He is originally from Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.