Construction worker dies after falling from Wilshire Grand tower

A construction worker died today in Downtown Los Angeles after falling 53 stories from the Wilshire Grand tower, the Los Angeles Times reports.

He fell while working on the 53rd floor of the project that will be the West Coast’s tallest skyscraper once it’s completed.

The male worker was pronounced dead at the scene near 624 South Figueroa Street. His body had struck the back of a car that was driving on Figueroa.

Workers at Wilshire Grand are required to wear tethering harnesses, but the man was seen without one, witnesses told the Times.

Following the man’s death, Turner Construction Company, which manages the construction site, brought everyone down from the tower and shut the site down. Foremen were asked to conduct head counts.

The $1.2 billion Wilshire Grand Center, developed by Korean Area, is slated to be completed next year. When finished, it will outshine Downtown L.A.’s U.S. Bank Tower as the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. [LAT] – Hannah Miet