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CVC Construction Worker Dies After Collapsing

A 54-year-old construction worker died Tuesday after collapsing during a Capitol Visitor Center meeting.

The cause of death could not be confirmed at press time.

William Lush, a division manager for the Flippo Construction Co., had been overseeing the utility work for the new service tunnel being constructed on the north side of the Capitol.

He was attending a meeting in a trailer on the East Capitol grounds when he collapsed at 9:45 a.m. and was airlifted by Medivac helicopter off the West Front at 10:20 a.m.

“He had stopped breathing so they prioritized it and transported him via [U.S.] Park Police helicopter,” said Capitol Police spokeswoman Jessica Gissubel.

Lush, who had been with Flippo since 1984, was attended to by staff from the Attending Physician’s office. He was pronounced dead after arriving at the Washington Hospital Center/MedStar.

A resident of Camp Hill, Pa., Lush commuted to Washington to work during the week.

He is survived by his wife and three grown children.

A spokesman for Flippo said, “All of Flippo is grieving right now and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

After Lush was transported, exhaust from the helicopter entered the Capitol’s air intakes, prompting reports of fumes in the building. According to the Architect of the Capitol statement, the air was sampled and determined to contain no harmful substances.

“They reversed the airflow and the fumes dissipated,” Capitol Police spokeswoman Kim Bolinger said.

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