TOLEDO - A construction crane collapsed yesterday onto a construction site at an interstate bridge over the Maumee River, crushing a tractor-trailer and killing three workers, officials said.
Five other injured workers, including one in critical condition, were at St. Vincent Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Gloria Enk said. Authorities at the scene said no one else was trapped, and no motorists were injured.
The 2 million-pound yellow steel crane was moving but empty when it fell at about 2:30 p.m. in the space between the northbound and southbound lanes on Interstate 280's approach to the bridge southeast of the river, said Joe Rutherford, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The 315-foot-long custom-made crane, known as an erection truss, lifts 85 ton sections of new roadway into place for workers to attach them, Rutherford said. The crushed truck had just arrived with one of the sections for the crane, which is supported by two legs.
Missouri-based Fru-Con, the primary contractor for the project, referred all calls to the Transporation Department.
The cause of the collapse was under investigation, Rutherford said.
There's massive damage
Toledo Fire Capt. Robert Krause said.
Traffic had been open as crews worked on a $277 million project to build a new six-lane freeway bridge alongside the four-lane Craig Memorial Bridge south of downtown. Crews were building an approach for the new bridge that crosses over the existing freeway lanes.
After the collapse, ODOT closed the freeway indefinitely in both directions from Interstate 75 to state Route 795.
A smaller crane hoisted workers about 70 feet into the air to retrieve the body of one of the workers hanging from a support jutting from the water for the new bridge.
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.
Scott and Dawn Croydon were driving south across the bridge when they saw a huge dust cloud. As they approached and the dust cleared, they saw workers hanging limp in their safety harnesses.
I'm still shaking said Dawn Croydon from their home in suburban Northwood.
Scott Croydon pulled over, and the couple helped a construction worker with an injured leg get out of the way to level ground until ambulances could arrive.
He said he was in the ground crane and heard a horrible twisting of metal and noise and jumped out
Mrs. Croydon said. I looked around and cars were whizzing by. I don't think people realized at first.
The seven-phase project is the largest in Transportation Department history, the agency has said. I-280 connects the Ohio Turnpike to Interstate 75 and runs through downtown.
Freeway traffic is to be diverted to the new bridge when it's complete, expected in late 2005, and the old bridge will be used for local traffic, highway officials said.
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