Man killed in Salem construction accident

A 30-year-old North Attleborough man was killed on a construction site in Salem Friday afternoon after he was pinned beneath a piece of excavating equipment, according to the city’s police chief.

The man was not immediately identified Friday evening, as officials located next of kin, Salem Police Chief Mary Butler said in an e-mail.

The incident happened at 98 Washington Square West, where a former Knights of Columbus was located, just before 3 p.m., Butler said. The man was taken to North Shore Medical Center, where he died at about 6 p.m.

“Our hearts go out to the family of this young man who are left to deal with this tragic and sudden loss of their loved one,’’ Butler said.

The former Knights of Columbus building opposite Salem Common is being converted to condominiums.

Because it was a working construction site, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were notified to respond to the scene, Butler said.

An OSHA spokesman did not immediately answer an e-mail Friday night.

No further information was immediately available.