Company Cited in Fatal West Virginia Cell Tower Collapse

Federal officials have cited an Oklahoma company after two cellphone towers collapsed in West Virginia and killed three people.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it cited S and S Communication Specialists Inc. for two serious violations stemming from the February incident at Clarksburg.

Officials say the company was modifying a cellular communication tower when the tower fell and weakened a second tower, which also collapsed. Two company employees and a volunteer firefighter died. Two other people suffered serious injuries.

OSHA assessed a $7,000 penalty for each violation. The company has 15 business days to respond.

No one at the company could be reached Thursday night. In February, a company official said S and S was saddened by the accident and was cooperating with investigators.