A walking tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, turned fatal Friday afternoon when strong winds dislodged roofing material that struck a visitor. Rogério Renato Mateucci, rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Brazil, died instantly and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the death as a weather-related accident, and no foul play is suspected.
The National Weather Service reported east winds of about 22 miles per hour with gusts up to 32 around the time of the accident. Taliesin West, a National Historic Landmark and the winter home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, has closed to the public until further notice. The Frank Wright Foundation expressed its deepest condolences to Mateucci’s family, and the university canceled classes Saturday and Monday while administrative offices closed Monday so the community could mourn its highest-ranking official.
For Suncoast residents, the story is a sobering reminder that wind is a year-round factor on the Gulf Coast as well, from summer squalls to hurricane season to breezy beach afternoons. Whether you’re touring a historic site, strolling a boardwalk, or visiting an older building, it’s worth a glance overhead when gusts pick up. Have you ever changed plans because of wind while out at a landmark or on the water? Let us know in the comments.
