Worker Killed and Another Remains Missing After Loop Parkway Bridge Scaffolding Collapse in Nassau County During Repair Project on Long Island

POINT LOOKOUT, NY — A construction worker died and another remained missing after scaffolding collapsed during a bridge repair project on Long Island, according to New York State Police. The accident happened shortly before noon Wednesday on the Loop Parkway Bridge in Point Lookout.

Police said the collapse occurred while a bridge construction and repair crew was working beneath the span. Two workers fell into the water when the scaffolding gave way, and rescue crews rushed to the scene as the response grew throughout the day.

One of the workers was pulled from the water and taken to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A second worker was still unaccounted for Wednesday evening, with search efforts continuing in the water around the bridge.

Six other workers escaped the water but suffered injuries

Authorities said six additional workers were caught up in the incident but did not fall into the water. Those workers suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to state police.

The crash of the scaffolding turned what had been a repair job into a large emergency operation. First responders focused on both the injured workers and the search for the missing man while the scene remained active for hours.

State police said next-of-kin notification for the deceased worker was still pending Wednesday. No further identifying information was released publicly as authorities continued working on the response and recovery effort.

Dive teams, marine units and the Coast Guard joined the search

The collapse triggered a major emergency response involving multiple fire department marine units, dive teams, police agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard. Divers and rescue crews spent hours searching the waters near the bridge after the scaffolding failed.

Officials said the scale of the response reflected the danger of the scene and the fact that two workers had entered the water. Emergency personnel remained on site Wednesday as recovery efforts continued into the evening.

The search centered on the waters below and around the bridge, where crews worked to locate the missing worker and support the broader operation. The response stayed active as agencies coordinated efforts across the area.

Repair work was underway on a state environmental project

The bridge project is part of an initiative by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Authorities did not release additional details about the work being performed when the collapse happened.

Police also did not say what caused the scaffolding to fail. The circumstances of the collapse remained under investigation as crews stayed at the scene and the search continued.

The Loop Parkway Bridge remained partly affected by the emergency response. Northbound lanes stayed closed Wednesday, while southbound lanes reopened later in the day.

Traffic impacts continued as recovery efforts went on

The bridge closure added another layer of disruption to the rescue and recovery effort. Northbound drivers were still blocked from using the Loop Parkway Bridge while investigators and emergency crews kept working in the area.

Southbound lanes reopened, but the site remained an active emergency zone as authorities searched for the missing worker. The continuing operation meant the bridge was still closely managed by responders even after part of the roadway reopened.

For local residents and commuters, the immediate concern centered on the human toll of the collapse and the prolonged emergency presence at the bridge. Officials said the response would continue as long as necessary to complete the search and recovery work.

Questions remain about how the scaffolding gave way

Even as crews searched the water, officials had not said what led to the collapse or whether any equipment issues were suspected. State police offered only limited details Wednesday while the emergency response was still underway.

The incident left one worker dead, another missing and six others injured, turning a routine repair project into a major rescue and recovery operation. Authorities were still working through the aftermath as the scene remained active near Point Lookout.

Further information was expected to come from investigators as they continued examining the collapse and its impact on the bridge project. For now, the priority remained finding the missing worker and stabilizing the scene.