The owner of a Virginia construction company that specializes in luxury homes faces criminal charges after a 16-year-old boy working on a job site died this summer.
Thomas Digges of Digges Development Corporation was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and violating child labor law. He turned himself in Thursday. He was set to be released after being fingerprinted.
Spencer Lunde, of McLean, Virginia, boy died after an accident on a Digges Development Corporation job site in McLean on July 23. Lunde was helping build a sewage line for a new housing development in the 1800 block of Solitaire Lane when a ditch collapsed and he was trapped.
Once crews freed Lunde and a man, medics laid the teen on the sidewalk and tried to revive him, according to neighbors. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died.
It's illegal for 16-year-olds to work in excavation in Virginia, though teens at that age can work other construction jobs.
Digges did not respond to News4's requests for comment. He hired a prominent defense attorney, Peter Greenspun, to represent him. Greenspun also did not comment.
Digges' attorney said in court that his client had cooperated with authorities and was not a flight risk. Digges is married and has four children, including a 17-year-old.
Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.
