Worker hurt in collapse dies

SANTA FE — One of three workers injured Friday by steel beams that collapsed at a school auditorium that was under construction has died, police said.

Richard Steinecke Jr., 21, of New Caney, died about 5 a.m. Saturday at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Santa Fe police Sgt. Eric Bruss said.

The partial structure collapse occurred at Santa Fe High School in the 16000 block of state Highway 6 at about 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Steinecke was tied to one beam that was tied to another, which broke loose, causing him to fall about 50 feet.

Firefighters found Steinecke on a concrete surface with a 12-foot-long steel column on top of him. Police used a crane at the construction site to lift the beam a few inches to free Steinecke.

The two other workers, Cody Key, 26, of Conroe, and Escolastico Mendez, 44, of Houston, were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening and were released Friday from the medical branch, Bruss said.

Santa Fe police said all three worked for P&C Construction Erectors, which is based in Porter.

Authorities have not determined a cause of the accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is involved in the investigation.

The $11.3 million auditorium construction was funded through Santa Fe Independent School District’s 2008 bond referendum.

Students were not on campus at the time of the structure collapse because of spring break.