Wet ground may have caused tragic Holton crane accident
By: Jim Doblin
Updated: October 18, 2018
HOLTON, Kan. (KSNT) -
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says moist ground may have been a factor in Wednesday's tragic crane crash. One man was killed, another seriously injured at a house in south Holton.
Initially both men were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. However Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said John Douglas Zibell, 66, from Holton was later pronounced dead at the Holton hospital. The other man, now identified as 29 year-old Zachary Estrada, of Holton, sustained an amputation to his right arm and was transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Both men were thrown from a lift basket which was about 30 feet in the air, after the mobile crane carrying them overturned. The men were working on the three-story house's roof at the time of the accident. The Sheriff said The men had been working from a large basket or work platform that was attached to the boom of the T-Rex forklift.
"The ground was sloped where the machine sat, and the ground was soft from the recent moisture."
Morse says the accident happened shortly after 2 p.m.. He described the scene as grim and the area currently cordoned off by law enforcement.
He said the workers were members of a Holton-area contractor but did not have any more specifics. The name of the other man is not yet being released until family is notified.
Candelaria Alcantar said one of the victims was a family friend.
"I was shocked. I was really shocked because it was just unbelievable. He was a good guy and you wouldn't expect something like that to happen to someone like that."
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the accident. OSHA is always involved when a worker dies at a workplace or job site.
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John D. Zibell
May 10, 1952 - October 17, 2018
John Douglas Zibell, Sr., 66, of Holton, KS entered into eternal life on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 as a result of a construction accident. He was born May 10, 1952 in Holton, KS the son of Gus Junior and Bessie Emma (Roller) Zibell.
He graduated from Holton High School in 1970 and has been a lifelong member of the community. After school he helped on the family farm and worked for Strader Drilling for a short time. In the early 80’s he started Zibell Construction which he owned and operated for many years. By trade, he was a “master carpenter of rough carpentry”.
He was an active member of the Evangel United Methodist Church serving on the Fixing by Faith team, part of the God’s Mix Sunday School Class, member of the choir, and in previous years was the janitor for the church. He was a former board member of Nueva Vida Ministry, Forest Park camp and retreat center, and former youth leader. John enjoyed working on projects for Habitat for Humanity, the Americore Kids mentoring program and anything that allowed him to work with his hands to serve or assist those in need. Along with this, hobbies included: chainsaw carving, traveling, an ongoing quest for knowledge, wine making, riding his motorcycle, jammin’ out to classic rock, baking, camping, spending time with his family & friends and playing the guitar.
He was united in marriage to Stacy McKinney on August 18, 2018. John and Stacy had a very special bond and love for one another, which grew stronger over their long courtship from neighbors to husband and wife.
Survivors include his wife, Stacy Zibell, (Sarah & Luis), (Emily), (Val) of the home; Melanie Shelman, the mother of his children - sons, John Zibell, Jr. (Sarah) of Holton, KS and Joey Zibell (Tammi) of Baldwin City, KS; a daughter, Jennifer Zibell (Ryan Farringer) of Wichita, KS; a sister, Mary Longren (Paul) of Westmoreland, KS; a brother, Marlin Zibell (Betsy) of Holton, KS and 5 grandchildren, Gillian, Lauren, Zoey, Milo and Grace.
He was preceded in death by his parents Gus and Bessie, loving wife Sarah (Bullard) Zibell and grandson Ian Zibell.