Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


A GoFundMe account has been set up for the man killed in a tragic construction accident on Monday in Brighton Township.

23-year-old Ryan Starnes of St. Clair Shores was struck by an excavator Monday afternoon while working at a job site on Grand River near I-96. Michigan State Police said Starnes was working in an excavated hole in the road when he was struck by the excavator bucket.

An investigation is ongoing but police said it appeared to be an accident and that the worker operating the excavator was not aware the victim was in the hole.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to aid with funeral expenses for Starnes, as well as his family. It states the following:

“The family of Ryan Starnes, who recently lost his life at work, while building the new section on Grand River in Brighton are raising money for funeral expenses and to take care of his 6 year old non-verbal autistic son who will need support the rest of his life. Ryan was 23 years old and the sole supporter of his young family. He has been working as an underground utility worker for the past 5 years. This was hard exhausting work and Ryan never complained as he would do anything to take care of his family, now as a family we want to do everything we can to make sure his son is taken care of, and we can provide a proper funeral”.

A link is provided.

Photo: GoFundMe