17.04.2008

Crane operator charged

A crane operator, Joseph Dimaano, 33, has been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter after accidentally killing two motorists and a co-worker, David Jenkins, 29, while installing a power pole in Upland, San Bernadino, California.

Dimaano and Jenkins were working for the Riverside, California, office of North Dakota based utility contractor Pouk & Steinle, installing wooden power poles on December 6, 2006.

The two men lost control of a 22 metre long pole, which swung across traffic lanes. A car driven by 81-year-old Joel Everett Ridley slammed into it, killing both him and his long time freind and wife of two days, 80-year-old Betty Deyo-Ridley. The impact pushed the pole into Jenkins killing him as well.

The prosecutor said Dimaano was negligent, and that he and Jenkins failed to erect any sort of traffic control devices, such as cones or signs, to divert traffic or warn passing drivers of danger from low-slung poles.

"They had started unloading the power pole before the sign crew and the crew that was going to do traffic control had arrived," he said.

Last year Osha fined Pouk & Steinle $50,000 for violations related to the accident that included failure to provide adequate safety instructions to new employees; failure to wear orange vests or put out cones; and failure to warn motorists and guide them past a nighttime project.