A man washing windows was killed in a fall Monday morning from an office tower in downtown Boston, authorities said.
Police arrived at Summer St. shortly before 8 a.m. for a report of a worker who fell, said Officer Jason Villanueva, a department spokesperson. The man, identified Monday evening by the Suffolk district attorney’s office as 40-year-old Nicholas Marks, of East Weymouth, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to Mr. Marks’s family and friends at this tragic time,” District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement.
“It appears to be an accident,” Villanueva said, adding that homicide detectives have been notified as well as OSHA.
An OSHA spokesperson said via email that the agency “was notified of a fall at this location and is responding.”
The office tower houses “a diverse mix of small technology start-ups, international corporations,” and other ventures, according to its website.
Three ropes were hanging from one side of the building late Monday morning, and a fourth rope that appeared to have snapped was visible about 16 stories up.
A man who works as a window washer who said he knew the victim told reporters that the worker who fell was a father. Another man who also knew the victim said, “He’s a great guy; he’s got two beautiful children at home. There’s nothing else to say.”
The victim, the man said, was on a platform held by two ropes. While it’s common for one to fail, he said it’s unusual for both to fail. He said the victim was also likely in a harness.
“It’s horrendous,” said Nancy Malhotra, of Burlington, Vt., while looking at the building, which remained partially blocked off late Monday morning.
”I just feel so bad,” Malhotra said. “I look at the people that do this type of work and just — I never could.”
Justin, who works at a nearby Starbucks and did not want his full name used, said he was startled when a customer ran inside saying “someone fell” at the office tower.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Talia Lissauer can be reached at talia.lissauer@globe.com. Follow her on Instgram @_ttphotos.