30.08.2021

Fatal boom incident on Interstate

A fatal boom lift incident occurred on Friday evening, in Paw Paw, near Kalamazoo, Michigan, when a large truck struck the operator of a self-propelled boom lift that was working on a bridge on Interstate 1-94.

The operator had seen that the truck looked set to hit his machine and so jumped clear of the platform. He was unlucky however in that the truck struck him, causing injuries that would led to his death.

The Michigan State Police issued the following statement on Saturday: “Troopers from the Michigan State Police, Paw Paw Post and Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement are investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred at approximately 9:30pm this evening in the construction zone on westbound I-94 at County Road 653.”

“The initial investigation finds that a road construction worker was operating a crane conducting bridge work over-top of the roadway. The worker attempted to jump from the construction equipment prior to it being struck by a westbound semi-truck The worker was pronounced deceased on scene and the crash remains under investigation. The name of the worker is not available pending family notification. The driver of the semi suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Bronson Hospital.”