Community raises donations for family of Middleboro man killed in fatal Everett crane incident

MIDDLEBORO — A fundraiser has been created to support the family of Paul Ledwell, 37, a Middleboro man who died in a fatal crane collapse in Everett.

Ledwell and one other Roslindale man died Oct. 24 following a large crane collapse at a construction site the two men were working on. A GoFundMe fundraiser has reached roughly $25,000 of its $30,000 goal to support Ledwell’s two sons aged 12 and 8.

“All donations will go directly toward scholarship funds established for each of his sons,” wrote the fundraiser’s organizer, Jacqueline McCarthy. 

In a statement written by Ledwell’s sister, Darcy Kennedy, and released on social media by Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, she said Ledwell’s career followed in the footsteps of their father. He had a longstanding membership in the New York Local 1556 and Boston Local 56 Pile Drivers and Dock Builders Unions, and would often work alongside his brother and brother-in-law.

Kennedy wrote he was a seasoned pile driver who took “immense pride” in his work.

“He was a shining example of what it means to dedicate your life to your work and to the people you love,” Kennedy said. “As we grieve his loss, we also celebrate the incredible person he was and the legacy he leaves behind.”

Ledwell and Larriston Lake, 44, of Roslindale were identified Monday by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office as the two individuals who were confirmed dead after the Oct. 24 incident. According to Everett police, the initial investigation suggests a large crane collapsed and killed the two workers.

According to the Everett Fire Department, the crane was on a barge on a former marine terminal which made the response more difficult for the multiple agencies on scene.

The investigation is still ongoing, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.

Find the GoFundMe fundraiser “Support for Paul & Vinny Ledwell” on the GoFundMe website.