Kleiton De Madeiros dies, Diogo De Oliveira missing after Loop Parkway bridge scaffolding collapse

A contractor killed when scaffolding collapsed underneath the Loop Parkway bridge and another worker still missing have been identified as two New Jersey men employed by the Holtsville company in charge of ongoing repair efforts, state police said.

Kleiton De Madeiros, 39, of Montclair, was identified as the man pulled from the water following Wednesday's collapse, authorities said Thursday. Paramedics performed CPR on De Madeiros at the scene and he was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

The search for De Madeiros was suspended Thursday afternoon due to high winds and rain, state police said at 3 p.m. It was not immediately clear when the search would resume

A second worker, missing since he fell into Long Creek below the Depression-era bridge, was identified as Diogo De Oliveira, 38, of Elizabeth.

Both men work for Champion Painting, which holds the $13.8 million multilocation bridge contract, and has an office in Holtsville.

State officials said the contract called for workers to repaint and repair steel at four bridges, including the Loop Parkway drawbridge. Officials said the work should be completed by the end of 2027.

"Champion is heartbroken for the family of our deceased colleague and closely monitoring the search for our missing team member," the company said in a statement. "We sincerely appreciate the heroism and professionalism of the first responders and thank them for their selfless service. We are focused on the needs of our employees and their families and assisting local, state and federal authorities as they work to determine the cause of this tragic incident."

De Oliveira’s sister walked down to the beach next to the bridge Thursday morning, joined by friends and family from New Jersey. She declined to discuss her missing brother or the ongoing search.

Efforts to reach De Madeiros' family were not immediately successful.

Eight workers were doing construction on the drawbridge when the scaffolding collapsed around 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday and two fell into the water, state police said.

Six additional workers involved in the incident did not fall into the water and sustained non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

On Thursday morning, the search for De Oliveira resumed, as authorities canvassed the waters of Jones Bay and both sides of the bridge even as rain started to pick up. 

A Nassau County police helicopter circled overhead while police boats from state and Nassau police searched both sides of the bridge, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Bay Constable.

Meanwhile, state police were stationed at the top of the bridge assisting investigators, including from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in inspecting and photographing the scene. 

OSHA spokesman Juan Rodriguez said the agency, which looks into workplace accidents, has opened an investigation into the scaffolding collapse.

Traffic was briefly stopped over the 2.65-mile Loop Parkway on Thursday as OSHA went to examine the top of the draw bridge, which has a 21-foot clearance.

Several Champion Painting vehicles were parked along the side of the bridge, though construction had stopped Thursday.

A few solemn spectators Thursday morning walked down to a nearby beach on East Alter Island and to the water close to the bridge while the search resumed.

Records show that construction on the bridge, along with two others on the Meadowbrook State Parkway, has been ongoing since September as part of a contract with the state Department of Transportation "to help maintain their reliability and integrity."

Work includes maintenance on the bridge decks, the replacement of bridge joints, installation of new railings and addition of navigation lighting to improve visibility for maritime traffic.

The bridge, which runs off the Meadowbrook Parkway and Ocean Parkway at Jones Beach, is one of the primary routes to connect south Nassau County to the barrier island consisting of Point Lookout, Lido Beach, Long Beach and Atlantic Beach.

Built in 1934, the bridge has been subject to frequent repairs and malfunctions.

In 2022, the state Department of Transportation, which operates the bridge, conducted a $250,000 study to examine whether to replace the drawbridge.

State transportation officials said the drawbridge opens approximately 2,500 times per year for marine traffic.