KSAWTV.COM | Twin Falls News, Breaking News, Weather and Sports-Crane Splashes Into Snake River
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A construction accident in Weiser sent a huge crane tumbling into the Snake River Monday. The crane was working on a new bridge over the river on Highway 95, when a beam it was moving swayed, pulling the crane over the edge.
"I just saw a big cloud of dust," construction worker Kenne Souza said. Souza was holding up cars on one end of the bridge when the crane toppled. "all of a sudden we heard a loud snap."
The driver of the crane was in the cab as it fell off a temporary bridge being used in the construction. "His words to our deputy were I just rode it out," Malheur County Sergeant Rich Harriman said. The man was able to crawl out of the crane without serious injury.
Other problems quickly sprung up though, the crane started leaking diesel fuel and hydraulic liquid into the river. Crews worked quickly to try and minimize the river's contamination. "Based on capacity of the crane and efforts made by the crew not much diesel went into the Snake," Harriman said. Crews used a 55 gallon drum to catch the liquid.
Several different investigations have or will be started in the coming days.
