Friday, March 20, 2015

CRANE MAY NOT HAVE MOUNTED OR LIFTED PIPE LOAD PROPERLY, CAUSING ACCIDENT ON 520 BRIDGE THAT CRUSHED A SEATTLE METRO BUS AND INJURED 8





 





 









MARCH 18, 2015

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

An investigation was launched Wednesday into the construction accident at the State Route 520 bridge that sent an overhead sign crashing down on a Metro bus, injuring eight people.

The Washington State patrol said a crane dropped a large steep pipe that hit an overhead highway sign, which then crashed down on the bus.

The Washington State Department of Transportation announced that the contractor, Flatiron Construction, on Wednesday suspended all construction work while an investigation is under way.

The state Department of Labor and Industries said they cannot talk about an open case, but a source close to the investigation told Q13 FOX News that the load may have not been lifted properly.

With the damage to the bus severe and eight passengers hurt, the 911 calls poured in, including one from a construction worker on the site.
“The piling we were unloading hit the sign, the sign looks like it came down on the bus,” the caller said.

Drivers who witnessed the sudden impact rushed over to help passengers.
“There were people crying, people really shook up about it,” one witness said.
Labor and Industries is investigating Flatiron and two subcontractors doing the crane work when the accident happened. WSDOT released a statement that reads, in part.

“Last night’s incident was during a routine operation that has been performed safely and successfully many times by the contractor working on the SR 520 West Approach Bridge North Project since October 2014.”

But a source with knowledge of the accident told Q13 FOX News the crane was not plumb, meaning it wasn`t sitting directly above the load when it lifted the load off the flatbed truck, causing the pipe to swing and hit the sign.

“If you are going to do serious or potentially dangerous work on the bridge, close the bridge and then do all the work,” one driver said.
We tried to pose that question to Flatiron at its Bothell office but no one at the location could answer any questions.

But WSDOT says safety is a priority for them and the contractor.  Of course this is always lip service, as the number one priority is to stick to the budget and schedule and make safety the number one priority as soon as it meets the budget and schedule.  In essence this means that short cuts are being taken all the time, such as:  not wearing fall protection; not placing enough warning signs; not shutting down the bridge for dangerous operations; working longer hours; working without adequate lighting; operating the cranes using not properly trained workers, and so on.

Although WSDOT called the work routine, our source says it is “highly unusual” that traffic would be allowed to continue moving on the bridge while that type of work was taking place.
Source: q13fox.com

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PIPE BEING LIFTED BY A CRANE CAME LOSE AND HIT A SEATTLE METRO BUS FIRST AND THEN STRUCK AN OVERHEAD SIGN, CAUSING THE SIGN TO CRASH ONTO THE BUS

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Eight bus passengers were injured Tuesday night in an accident involving a construction crane on the westbound 520 Bridge.

The incident happened east of Lake Washington Boulevard just after 10 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says a pipe came loose from a load the crane was lifting.  According to troopers, the pipe hit the bus first and then struck the overhead sign, causing the sign to crash onto the bus.
There was shattered glass and mangled metal. The bus driver managed to stop.
See photos of the crash scene here.

Fire officials told KIRO 7 that 20 people were on the bus. Eight people were evaluated by firefighters and were taken to area hospitals with injuries, most had minor injuries. According to the State Patrol, one bus passenger was pinned, either underneath the metal piling or some of the wreckage. That passenger had to be extricated by firefighters and had a significant leg injury. One woman was still in serious condition recovering Wednesday at Harborview Medical Center.

KIRO 7 talked to a witness who was driving 100 yards back and saw the accident.

"I saw the crane with the big pipe hit the overpass and it fell right in front of us. I was one car behind," said witness Sonny Barenz.

Barenz said he jumped the median to help the passengers.
All lanes in both directions of the 520 Bridge were shut down until about 4:50 a.m. Wednesday.

Passenger Ben Zee sent this statement to KIRO 7 Reporter Alison Grande:

"I was sitting toward the back of the bus, there were some screams and a loud crash as the impact occurred.  I managed to get out unassisted through the emergency exit. I received a 2mm cut on the top of my head from a steel handrail which came loose and passed through the back if the bus.  I treated my own injury and rendered assistance to those who were hurt; I watched over a two people who had  received blunt force trauma and lacerations respectively.  I did what I could to keep them calm until the arrival of the first responders.  The police, fire fighters, and EMT arrived in good time and were efficient, professional, and polite in their assistance and treatment of the patients.

"In regard to the driver, he did well to spot the oncoming debris and slowed the bus significantly.  Additionally, he seemed unharmed and was able to exit the bus and provide aid, despite the entire driver's area being crushed.

"I feel that all of the passengers involved did well to assist one another and communicate with emergency services.  Although an unfortunate event, it could have ended much worse than it did."
Source:www.kirotv.com