Sterling rock quarry worker killed by ledge collapse
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A worker was killed on Thursday morning at a Sterling rock quarry operated by Onyx Corp. of Acton, after a ledge collapsed onto an excavator.
A worker at a Sterling rock quarry was killed on Thursday morning after a 100-foot ledge collapsed.
Emergency crews were called to 17 Stone Crest Way, the site of a quarry operated by Onyx Corp. of Acton, just after 8 a.m on Thursday after reports of a rock ledge collapsing onto an excavator containing a worker.
Using camera equipment to assess the site, emergency responders found no signs of life and pronounced the worker deceased at 8:39 a.m, according to the Sterling Fire Department’s website. The fatal incident drew a wide variety of first responders to the scene, including multiple local fire departments, the Massachusetts State Police, and officials from the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The victim has been identified as Brian Curtis Derby, age 67, of Townsend, according to the Office of Worcester County District Attorney.
“Our hearts go out to the family of our longtime employee and friend who was killed in a tragic accident this morning at our Sterling Sand and Gravel pit,” a statement posted to the Onyx Corp. website reads. “He was operating an excavator within the safety zone of a 100-foot ledge face when the wall collapsed; we are not releasing his name pending notification of next of kin. Leading the investigation onsite is the Mining Safety and Health Administration who had been at the facility as recently as Tuesday for a company-requested inspection due to expanded operations.”
Onyx Corp. was founded in 1980 by John and Stacey Durkin and now has more than 100 employees.
An Onyx-managed entity purchased the two parcels containing the quarry for a combined $650,000 in 2022, according to Town of Sterling property records.
Eric Casey is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated from a previous version to provide an update on the victim's identity.
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