18.04.2008

Man catapulted from boom lift

A Florida department of transportation worker, Douglas Smith, 46, was killed early this morning after a large truck ploughed into his aerial lift.

The accident occurred just after midnight, on Interstate 75 near Bradenton, Smith and a colleague – Hamilton Dixon, 44, were working on sign lighting maintenance. A regular truck, equipped with was parked behind the truck mounted aerial lift and equipped with a large illuminated arrow board.

The two had also set out 10 large cones to help direct traffic away from the right hand lane on the north bound side of the highway. They were parked under the large exit sign for state road 64.
Ernesto Reyes, 51, of Miami, was driving the articulated truck in the right lane and apparently did not see the cones or the arrow sign. He struck the arrow sign truck, slightly injuring Dixon, and rammed it into the aerial lift, pushing both trucks over 90 metres down the highway.

Smith was ejected from the platform on impact and landed on the road around 40 metres away. He was taken by helicopter to the Bayfront Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Two of the trucks caught fire and burned.

Interstate 75 northbound was closed for about four hours while troopers investigated the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol charged Reyes with careless driving.

Anyone who saw the crash should call Cpl. David Brunner at (941) 751-7647, Ext. 131.

Vertikal Comment

This is an appalling accident and careless driving hardly seems fitting. We assume that Smith was not wearing a harness, however with an impact like this it is hard to imagine what might have happened if he had been.

It seems a bit churlish to say he might be here today if he had been, but he may well have stood a good chance of survival. Perhaps when setting up to do this sort of work, the arrow board truck should be set up with a greater distance to the aerial device?

Whatever .. an accident such as this reminds us of the dangers involved with working on the highway, particularly at night.