MAY 12, 2015
CRESTMORE, CALIFORNIA
A construction crane accident in Crestmore killed the
63-year-old Nevada man who was operating the machine, say San Bernardino County
coroner's officials.
Judge W. Lightfoot died at the scene when the 75-ton crane toppled about
3:50 p.m. Monday, May 11, in an equipment yard along the 11400 block of South
Cactus Avenue. He was a resident of Henderson, Nev.
The crane had been scheduled to travel to a construction job
on Tuesday, fire officials said. Lightfoot was helping to check the machine and
ready it for the trip, they said.
The crane actually fell on him. He was pinned inside the
operator's cab.
The 75-ton machine landed on its side.
As evening neared, the crews of a fire engine, a ladder
truck and a heavy rescue unit were making arrangements to raise the crane so
that the victim's body could be removed.
It’s unclear how Lightfoot became pinned under the large
piece of equipment.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.