Harbor Place Worker Injured After Being Struck By Car

An unidentified construction worker received serious injuries after being struck by a motorist apparently distracted by work at the new Harbor Place Development, downtown.

A vehicle, driven by Brian M. McNeil, 49, of Haverhill, was traveling east on Merrimack Street, struck an unidentified 33-year-old construction worker from Lowell. The accident took place at 5:30, Wednesday morning. The worker was in the street directing a piece an aerial lift, according to a police report. McNeil told police he was looking up at the construction equipment and did not see the worker in the street. The lift operator told police the worker “did a flip in the air” and then the car also struck the lift.

The victim was transported to Lawrence General Hospital and later transferred to Tufts Medical Center, Boston. His condition was unknown at press time. No charges have been filed against McNeil, said police Lieutenant Robert P. Pistone.

Besides Haverhill police, the State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Section (CARS) unit and representatives of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responded.

Economic Development and Planning Director William Pillsbury Jr. told WHAV early in November there were no plans to block Merrimack Street during the demolition project.

“There will be minimal impact on Merrimack Street,” he said. While the sidewalk on the Bridge Street side of Woolworth’s will be closed to pedestrians, he said, everyone agreed it was important to keep open Merrimack Street’s right turn lane into Bradford,” he said.