Posted on 02/16/2004 4:53:51 PM PST by madison10
EAST TOLEDO -- An accident at the construction site of the new I-280 river crossing killed three people on Monday, and injured five more. A device called a "launching truss" fell on a semi-truck that was bringing bridge parts to the construction site. It happened just around 2:30 pm east side of the Maumee River near the Front Street exit.
The equipment fell in the space between the northbound and southbound lanes on Interstate 280's approach to the bridge south of downtown, Toledo Fire Capt. Robert Krause said. Traffic was open as crews worked on a $277 million project build a new six-lane freeway bridge alongside the four-lane Craig Memorial Bridge. "There's massive damage," said Krause.
Lucky Davis, 33, of Toledo, said he was driving north on I-280 about 50 yards from the crane when he heard a crack. "It was like the loudest thunder I've ever heard in my life," Davis said. "It was like a split second and I heard people screaming. I was in shock."
Five men were taken to St. Vincent's Mercy Medical Center, four are listed in serious condition and the other man is in critical condition. No word on the extent of their injuries. Dick Berry reported at 5:30 that the last of the bodies of the dead workers have now been placed in the coroner's van and removed from the accident site.
I-280 will be indefinitely closed, according to ODOT. Traffic going north on I-280 is being diverted to 795 and then to I-75. Traffic from I-75 is not being allowed on I-280.
The launching truss, which looks like a crane, is used to move the finished segments of expressway concrete out over the river to attach to the previously finished pieces. ODOT says the 2 million-pound yellow steel crane was moving but empty when it fell. The 315-foot-long custom-made crane lifted the 85-ton sections of new roadway into place for workers to attach them.
ODOT says the semi that was crushed had just arrived with one of the sections for the crame. It was supported by two legs. The seven-phase project is the largest in the history of the Ohio Department of Transportation, the agency said.
The freeway connects the Ohio Turnpike to Interstate 75 and runs just north of downtown Toledo. Freeway traffic is to be diverted to the new bridge when it's complete, and the old bridge will be used for local traffic, highway officials said.
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.