A construction worker at a construction site on the campus of Shepherd University died of electrocution Tuesday afternoon.

According to John Dawson, communications manager of Harkins Builders, Inc., the construction company has been on Shepherd’s campus working on a new student residence hall. Dawson said the deceased was not an employee of Harkins Builders, but was working through a subcontractor.

Dawson said he heard reports of the incident, which took the life of one man, from people who were at the construction site when the incident occurred around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been released.

“To my knowledge, (the deceased) was working on moving light poles to get the site ready for the construction of the new building,” Dawson said. “He was getting the poles out of the way, and a light line was the source of the electricity.”

Dawson said OSHA will be at the site today conducting an investigation.

“Of course we are thinking about the gentleman’s family tonight,” Dawson said. “It’s also an unfortunate thing to have happen at the beginning of a project.”

A statement released by Valerie Owens with Shepherd University Communications stated the next of kin to the deceased have been notified of the incident.

Shepherd University President Mary J. C. Hendrix stated, “On behalf of the Shepherd University community, we are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts are with the family at this time.”

The incident is under investigation.