17.11.2011

Train strikes boom lift

A man working on a bridge over a railway was thrown to the ground yesterday morning in Joliet, Illinois- near the Des Plaines river, when the boom lift he was working from was struck by a passing train.

The man, 39, was working on the I-80 interstate bridge when he is said to have fallen around 20 metres in the early hours of Thursday morning. His condition is not known but he is said to be in very critical condition.

A construction crew was working close to the twin rail tracks below the bridge when a northbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train pulling boxcars came down one of the tracks at around 30mph. The train driver said that he had a green light but activated his emergency brakes as soon as he saw the lift, but could not stop fast enough and struck the lift causing it to spin.

Another man, 32, working on the ground was struck by the lift and treated for minor injuries and then released. Both men are employees of D Construction.

We have no information on whether the injured man was wearing a harness and lanyard or not.