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
//--------------------------------------//
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
