Coroner asks for public’s help identifying kin of man killed Tuesday in construction accident

Richland County coroner Gary Watts is asking for the public’s help in reaching the relatives of a man killed Tuesday at a construction site on Greenlawn Drive off Garner’s Ferry Road.

The man, described as a Hispanic male about 60-years-old, may go by the name Enrique Vasquez, Watts said. He was an undocumented worker and provided no emergency contact or next of kin information to his employer, Watts said.

The victim was one of three construction workers who were carrying scaffolding that came in contact with a power line Tuesday afternoon on the 700 block of Greenlawn Drive in southeast Richland County. He was declared dead on the scene, a second man was taken to the hospital and a third man was not injured, Watts said.

Recognizing that next-of-kin or others who knew the victim may be reluctant to come forward if their legal status is in question, Watts said they don’t have to come into the coroner’s office or identify the body. They can call 803-576-1799.

“There is no issue of immigration status with us, we just want to identify the next of kin so that we can get the body of their loved one to them,” Watts said.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Coroner asks for public’s help identifying kin of man killed Tuesday in construction accident."