Fatal construction accident on Tri-C's campus kills one

By: WEWS News Staff

HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio - An accident during a construction project on Cuyahoga Community College’s East campus left a 45-year-old man dead after he fell three stories from a bucket lift truck, according to the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office.

Craig Mackovjak of Broadview Heights died at South Pointe Hospital, the coroner's Office said.

The accident occurred Monday morning on the Tri-C East campus in Highland Hills. The coroner said he was working in a bucket lift truck on some type of project at the school when he fell three stories. However, coroner's spokesman Powell Caesar said Monday night that an autopsy would have to determine the cause and manner of death. The autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the family said Mackovjack was married to Judge Deanna O'Donnell of Parma Municipal Court. They have four children: Morgan (22), Connor (21), Mason (13) and Quinn (12).

Mackovjak was also a member of the Broadview Heights Planning Commission and a former city councilman.

Broadview Heights Council President Helen Dunlap said he brought balance.

"He was very down to earth," she said. "He wouldn't do what they called political games. He would make a decision and stick to his decision. He knew who he was and how he wanted to be portrayed."

Mackovjak is also being remembered as a good husband and family man. Judge Tim Gilligan, who spoke on behalf of the family Monday night, said Mackovjak was planning to take his son to basketball practice after work.

"He'll be missed," Gilligan said. "We'll all miss him."

Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.