Taliesin West closes following fatal accident in Arizona

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, has temporarily closed to the public following a fatal accident during a walking tour on Friday.

Rogério Renato Mateucci, the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, was struck and killed by roofing material that was dislodged by strong winds. The Scottsdale Fire Department reported the incident occurred at approximately 2 p.m. local time. Authorities are treating the death as a weather-related accident.

The National Weather Service recorded east winds of 22 miles per hour with gusts reaching up to 32 miles per hour in the area at the time of the incident. No other injuries or deaths were reported among the other participants on the tour.

Joe Spector, CEO of the Taliesin West foundation, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased. The Scottsdale Police Department is investigating the incident, and the property remains closed until further notice.