Construction worker dies after falling from 53rd floor of LA building

LOS ANGELES -- An electrician who fell to his death from a downtown Los Angeles high-rise building was identified on Friday.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coronder identified the victim as 36-year-old Joseph Sabbatino of Palmdale.

Sabbatino was not supposed to be above the third floor and had removed his hardhat before falling 53 floors, construction company officials said.

The man fell from the Wilshire Grand Tower in the 600 block of S. Figueroa Street around 12:30 p.m.

Authorities said the worker's body struck the back end of a moving car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The female driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but was not believed to have been injured during the incident.

Officials were investigating what could have led to the electrician to fall from the building, which is soon to be the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.

All workers inside the building were supposed to be wearing harnesses that are tethered, project managers said. They stated there were also barricades around the exterior of the building to keep workers from approaching the edge.

It was the electricians second day on the job, according to officials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.